Teachers and administrators in the Sauk Prairie School District utilize a wide variety of techniques to measure student growth and determine strategies that will best support each learner. Many of these techniques are informal, classroom-based assessments that range from student presentations and writing assignments to online or paper-based tests and quizzes.

Sauk Prairie also utilizes STAR assessments with students in 2nd through 11th grade to help identify areas of strength and areas for growth in literacy and mathematics. These STAR assessments are computer-based and typically take 15-20 minutes to complete, thus minimizing the loss of instructional time. STAR assessments are adaptive -- the questions adjust for each student based on the correct and incorrect responses given.

The State of Wisconsin, in line with federal education policies, requires the administration of student assessments in 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade. Beginning in spring 2016, Wisconsin students in grade 3 through 8 will take the Forward Exam. The new custom assessment will be administered in English Language Arts and mathematics in grades 3 through 8, with an additional science section for those in grades 4, 8, and 10. The ACT and ACT WorkKeys examinations are administered to all 11th graders in March. The ACT is the nation's leading college entrance exam and the WorkKeys assessment enables students to earn work read certificates used by many state employers. 9th and 10th graders participate in the Aspire exam each spring. The Aspire is aligned to the ACT and produced by the same testing company.

Contact your student's teacher or principal with questions, or contact the Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction at 608-643-5590.