ISASP Results Release

Overview

Last spring, schools across Iowa gave the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP).  This assessment measured achievement in Reading (Grades 3-11), Writing (Grades 3-11), Math (Grades 3-11) and Science (Grades 5, 8, and 10).  Because this was the first administration of the assessment, additional time was taken this summer to work with teacher teams to review data and establish cut scores.

Timeline and Reports

We will receive student scores on Monday, November 4th.  This information is embargoed by the state until November 11th.  Scores will be available through the ISASP testing portal to building principals.  They will distribute and share the information internally.

The results will be available in multiple ways.  Below is a sample of an Individual Student Report. The first page will include a performance meter which is a visual to show where the student scored in the range of performance. There is also a scale score, an achievement level, and a description of performance.

The second page of the report includes domain scores for each of the subtests. The domain scores give additional information regarding strengths and areas for growth within each of the tested areas.

These reports will be printed at the district level and distributed to schools.  You will also have access to these reports electronically at your buildings.  Please do not print these reports--they will be sent to the Print Shop for cost efficiency. These individual reports will be sent home with students on Monday, November 11th. An accompanying district message will be sent to families through Infinite Campus to notify parents and guardians that these reports are coming home.

Additional reports include a School Achievement Level Summary and a Class Roster. The School Achievement Level Summary shows the overall performance of each grade level within a building compared to the district and state.  The Class Roster includes individual student scores by roster grouping.

Data Analysis

As we interpret this data, it is important to remember that this is a new assessment and a fresh start in reviewing results aligned to the standards we teach.  It would not be appropriate for us to compare this data to previous years of the Iowa Assessment.  The percentile ranks and standard scale scores are not aligned and would not serve as an accurate basis for comparison. There are a number of reasons why this assessment should not be compared to previous Iowa tests.  These factors are summarized in the table below.

Performance level descriptors specify the level of performance on a subtest that is required for a student to be classified into a given performance level including proficient, advanced, or not yet proficient.  Cut score ranges were established to determine where student results would fall within these performance categories. Information on these cut score ranges may be found here, and the performance level descriptors for each subject and grade level may be found at the links below.

ELA Performance Level Descriptors

Math Performance Level Descriptors

Science Performance Level Descriptors

Below are some resources for your reference as we review the results and plan actions for further support.

ISASP Information Page (tab for Reporting Resources)

Interpretative Manual for Educators

Interpretation Information for Families (this will be sent home to families through Infinite Campus)

Next Steps

As we receive these results, we can use them to provide summary information to communities and to assist with our curriculum design and school improvement planning. Results will also become a part of the Iowa School Performance Profiles produced by the Iowa Department of Education. 


An equivalent form of the ISASP will be administered in the Spring of 2020. The Performance Level Descriptors and cut scores established in 2019 will be used for the interpretation of the 2020 results. An index of student growth will be available after the spring 2020 results are available. In addition, relationships between ISASP and ACT will be established for college and career readiness as data for Iowa students become available. 

Review of Key Points

• ISASP results will be available to educators through the portal on November 4th.
• This information is embargoed to the public until November 11th.
• Individual Student Reports will be printed at the district level.
• Reports will be sent home on November 11th.
• A district message will be sent to families through Infinite Campus on November 11th.
• This new assessment is a fresh start for looking at data aligned to the Iowa Core.

While the results are delayed for this first administration, we will have results much earlier in subsequent years.  We will also be able to begin some growth comparisons to this baseline data when we test this spring.  We are looking forward to having this data available to continue everyone's hard and collaborative work in supporting all students.