The following assessment programs are used within USD 497:

FastBridge (Grades K-12)  FastBridge (Formative Assessment System for Teachers) is a suite of assessment progress monitoring tools in reading, math, and behavior designed to help educators screen, monitor student progress, and analyze skills in grades K-12. These screeners are administered three times a year; fall, winter, and spring.

Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) (Grades 3-8, 10-11)  The Kansas Assessment Program, commonly referred to as the state assessment, includes a variety of tests aligned to Kansas’ content standards, which help educators and policymakers evaluate student learning and meet the requirements for federal and state accountability.  Students in grades 3 - 8, and 10 test in the spring on reading and math; students in grades 5, 8, and 11 test in the spring on science, and students in grades 4, 7, and 11 test each spring in social studies. Your child's reports for all assessments administered through the Kite platform are available in the Kite Parent Portal!

Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) (Grades 3-8, 10-11)  The DLM Alternate Assessment System assists students with significant cognitive disabilities in demonstrating what they know in ways that traditional multiple-choice tests cannot. The DLM system is designed to map a student’s learning throughout the year. The system will use items and tasks that are embedded in day-to-day instruction. In this way, testing happens as part of instruction, which both informs teaching and benefits students.  The subjects tested are English language arts, Mathematics, Science.

Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessment (KELPA) (Grades 3-8, 10-11) KELPA measures the English language proficiency of English learners (EL). As outlined by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Office of Civil Rights, identified ELs who are enrolled in Kansas schools are entitled to services that ensure the students can meaningfully participate in educational programs and services. ELs are entitled to additional support until they have reached a level of English proficiency that allows them to participate in a standard instructional program in the classroom without additional language support.

Pre-ACT (Grades 9-10)  PreACT simulates the ACT testing experience within a shorter test window on all four ACT test subjects: English, math, reading and science. Results predict future success on the ACT test, and provide both current achievement and projected future ACT test scores on the familiar 1-36 ACT score scale. Please contact your student's high school counselor for further information.

ACT (Grade 11)  The ACT is a standardized test produced by ACT, Inc. Colleges and universities use students' scores on the ACT in the admissions process as a measure of college readiness, and, in some cases, for course placement purposes. ACT sets national test dates. Each spring, the state of Kansas funds and offers ACT testing free to all juniors.  Additional fee-based national testing dates are also available. Please contact your student's high school counselor for further information or access the school's testing information online: FSHS, LHS.

WorkKeys (Grade 11)  ACT WorkKeys determines workplace skill assessments: (1) Applied Math – applying mathematical reasoning to work-related problems, (2) Workplace Documents – comprehending work-related reading materials such as memos, bulletins, policy manuals, and governmental regulations, and (3) Graphic Literacy – using information from sources such as diagrams, floor plans, tables, forms, graphs, and charts  ACT sets national test dates. The state of Kansas offers a state-funded opportunity for all juniors to take the WorkKeys test.  This is offered one time at no cost to the student.  Please contact your student's high school counselor for further information.