Who We Are
Dr. Cathy Beals
Curriculum & Assessment
Kelly Glenn
Assessment Manager
The Kuna School District uses many different types of assessments to guide teaching and learning. We draw on educational research to create a comprehensive assessment system. Formative assessments are used every day in Kuna classrooms to provide evidence that students have learned what we call “learning targets.” Learning targets are statements teachers use to communicate the intended learning for students. Exit tickets, assignments, quizzes, tests, observations, interviews and checklists are just some of the techniques teachers use to assess student learning, provide feedback to students and guide additional instruction.
The Kuna School District also uses a variety of Summative Assessments to help our district continuously improve. Summative assessments are usually completed at the end of a unit or course. Summative assessments can be products such as chapter tests, final exams, projects, portfolios or presentations. The District is in the process of identifying key common assessments for each unit in a grade level or course. District common assessments are aligned to state standards and inform teachers, schools and the district whether our students are mastering the content required by the State of Idaho throughout the school year.
District common assessments help prepare Kuna students for state required summative assessments. State required summative assessments provide information to the schools, the district and the state on how Idaho students are performing in comparison to students in other schools, districts and states.
Data from assessments is used to help Kuna School District accomplish our mantra of “every student learning every day.”
2018-2019 Assessment Schedule
Kuna School District students will be participating in a number of assessments during the 2018-2019 school year. To view the preliminary calendar click on Assessment Calendar to view testing dates and testing date ranges.
State Assessments and Your Students
Below is the list of assessments (tests) required by the Idaho State Department of Education. By clicking on each tab, you will be able to see details on the test(s) and which grade levels participate in the assessment
Additional information regarding statewide assessment can be found at Idaho State Department of Education-Assessments.
Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) (Grades K-3)
What is the IRI?
The Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) is an assessment required by Idaho Statute 33-1614 to identify "at risk" students for reading failure. Research has shown that children who struggle with reading early on in their educational journey, experience greater difficulty in learning throughout their school years. The IRI is intended to identify these students so assistance can be provided as soon as possible.
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Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) (Grades 3-8 and 10)
What is the ISAT?
Each year, students in grades 3-8 and 10 take the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) to determine whether they have achieved the standards for their grade level and subject area. There are tests for English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics. The ISAT summative assessment is administered during the last 8 weeks of the school. It consists of two parts: a computer-adaptive test and performance tasks that are given on the computer.
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ISAT Science (Grades 5 & 7) & EOC-Biology/Chemistry (High School)
What is the ISAT Science and EOC?
The ISAT Science is composed of questions that address standards, goals, and objectives for grades 5 and 7. The goals and objectives for each grade are grouped into five reporting categories: 1) Nature of Science, 2) Physical Science, 3) Biology, 4) Earth and Space Systems, and 5) Personal and Social Perspectives; Technology
The Science End-of-Course Assessments are a component of the Idaho Comprehensive Assessment System. Students are required to be tested once at the high school level in Science. Idaho has chosen to administer each spring the End-of-Course assessments that students take in either Biology or Chemistry.
This multiple-choice test assesses what a student knows and is able to do related to the Idaho Science Core Standards. The questions are used to assess a variety of knowledge at different levels, from core knowledge to application, problem solving, and synthesis, and align directly to our science standards at the high school level.
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Special Education Assessments
What are Alternate Assessments ?
Idaho believes in high standards for all students, including students with disabilities. The overwhelming majority of students with disabilities can take the general assessment with the appropriate accommodations. For students with the most significant, cognitive disabilities for whom the general assessment is not appropriate, the administration of the Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) may be appropriate with accommodations.
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College Entrance Exams (High School)
What are the College Entrance Exams?
PSAT/NMSQT for 10th Grade
The PSAT/NMSQT is a comprehensive assessment that provides educators, students, and families an array of data and resources. It is a tool for students and teachers that can help foster a strong college and career ready culture.
SAT for 11th Grade
On the New SAT, students are assessed on reading and writing (combined) and mathematics. An optional essay section that Idaho has chosen to include for the Statewide School Day Administration is scored and reported separately.
Optional ACT
Contact your school's counselors for assistance and more information
Accuplacer
This assessment will no longer be used after 2018-19 for high school students. The Special Education and Assessment Department have collaborated and created ACCUPLACER Placement Decision-Making Process to provide guidance for IEP teams on which College Entrance Exam is right.
Students on a 504 do not qualify to take the ACCUPLACER.
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Civics- (High School)
What is the Civics Test?
Idaho students take the same test given to applicants for naturalization or citizenship. It includes 100 questions.
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English Language Proficiency (Grades K-12)
What is WIDA-ACCESS 2.0 for ELLs?
Idaho’s English Language Proficiency Assessment is administered annually every spring to calculate growth and proficiency for English Learners (ELs). All districts that serve ELs are held accountable to these growth and proficiency measures.
The annual ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards, and is a measure of the ELLs' proficiency and progress in learning English in the language domains of Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.
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National & International Tests (Grades 4, 8, & 12)
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
NAEP, also known as the "Nation's Report Card,". The Idaho State Board of Education includes NAEP (at grades 4, 8, and 12) in the state testing program because it gives us comparative state and national information about student achievement in reading, mathematics, science, and writing.
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How Are We Doing?
Our Superintendent prepares the Kuna School District Annual Report to update our community about our annual performance in student achievement and future directions.
The Kuna School Board and Kuna School District Leadership use assessment data to guide decision making related to our board goals. Assessment data is presented at most board meetings. Below are links to presentations to the school board on Kuna School District achievement data and plans for instructional improvement.
2018 Early Literacy Update
2017 ISAT Review
2016 KSD Junior Class SAT Review
School Report Cards
The State Department of Education releases school, district and state Report Cards. Click the link below to access Kuna School District's school and district report cards on the Idaho State Department of Education website.
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