Why Assessments?
Cirrus educators need detailed, real-time data to inform their work with scholars. Leaders and policymakers need aggregated, high-level data to inform decisions about policy and instructional programs. This balanced approach provides data so that a variety of stakeholders can inform decisions—whether at a policy, district, school, or classroom level—to support the improvement of Georgia’s education system.
Cirrus utilizes a balanced approach to assessments, maintaining a purposeful amount of accountability and insight into how scholars are doing. Through our approach, we can also focus time and resources on improving classroom learning throughout the school year.
The Assessments We Administer
Formative Assessments
GKIDS
A progression-based formative assessment that is integrated into classroom work and is aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE). This assessment is given to kindergarten scholars
Keensville
A game-based formative assessment given to scholars in grades 1-2 to provide a unique opportunity to:
- Integrate learning alongside assessment
- Support and empower the teacher with information to differentiate instruction for all scholars, whether they are struggling, on-grade-level, or advanced
- Hook scholars into the fun of learning
DRC Beacon
An assessment for grades 3-8, given three times a year in ELA and mathematics. DRC Beacon measures progress throughout the school year, allowing educators to target instruction and make informed decisions. It is mapped to the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE), adjusts the difficulty to meet scholars where they are, and minimizes testing time.
STAR Reading and Math; STAR Early Literacy
A formative assessment is given three times a year to grades K-8, providing teachers with learning data. STAR tests are computer-adaptive, which means they adjust to each answer your child provides. This gives teachers the best data regarding your child in the shortest amount of testing time (about one-third of the time other tests take).
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment Systems (BAS)
This assessment is used to determine each scholar’s independent and instructional reading levels. According to the F&P Text Level Gradient™, teachers are able to:
- Observe and quantify scholar reading behaviors
- Engage scholars in comprehension conversations that go beyond retelling
- Make informed decisions that connect assessment to responsive teaching
Summative Assessments
Georgia Milestones
The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is a comprehensive summative assessment program and represents a single system of summative assessments that span all three levels of the state’s educational system – elementary, middle, and high school. The system is designed to send consistent signals about students’ preparedness for the next level, be it the next grade, course, or endeavor, such as entering college or beginning a career after leaving the K-12 educational system. Cirrus gives this assessment in grades 3-8.