44-32. Assessments

44-32.1. Required Assessments. 

No later than June 30th of each year (or as soon as practicable after ISBE has published the state assessment calendar), the Board shall publish an assessment calendar for the subsequent school year, which shall consist of curriculum embedded classroom assessments across all content areas and grade levels (provided that teacher-created assessments shall be considered acceptable curriculum embedded assessments, and there shall be no quota requirements for such assessments), assessments mandated by the district for REACH, required to meet the mandates of state or federal laws and regulations, and mandated by a program (i.e., IB or any program that requires a test for student credit or program accreditation). At least one screening/benchmark assessment, selected by teachers through majority vote, shall be administered for students in K-9 in reading and math as part of the schools balanced assessment plan:

  • K-2: BOY, MOY and EOY for all students;
  • 3-9: BOY for all students, MOY and EOY for students on intervention plans

Administration of the selected screening/benchmark assessments in reading and math for grades K-9 at a frequency different from the required schedule whether more or less frequent shall be subject to the adoption of the plan provisions of 44-32.2.

Up to ten (10) sustainable community schools will pilot a new approach to assessment in the 2026-2027 school year. The Sustainable Community Schools Joint Task Force, in collaboration with the Academic Office, will develop and pilot innovative, authentic, rigorous, and relevant assessments to provide meaningful information to teachers, students, and parents about students’ strengths and areas for growth. The Task Force and Academic Office will establish criteria for selecting participating schools, determining their readiness to ensure successful implementation, and evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot. Once selected, these ten (10) sustainable community schools will be exempt from the centrally provided diagnostic options, except for assessments mandated by the district for REACH, those required by state or federal laws and regulations, and those required by specific programs (e.g., IB or any program that mandates a test for student credit or accreditation).

44-32.2. Additional Assessments. 

Schools shall determine additional assessments to be administered and modifications to the frequency of administration of screening/benchmark assessments per Article 44-32.1, in conjunction with the development of the School Improvement Plan for Advancing Academic Achievement (SIPAA) which is currently known as the Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP) through a vote. Each year in the spring, Teachers and the Principal, including through the PPC, will collaborate to develop a recommended plan for additional assessments, and/or adjustments to screening/benchmark assessments, if any, per grade band or content area/department. If the PPC wishes to decrease the frequency of screening/benchmark assessment per Article 44-32.1, that option shall be included in the assessment vote ballot. Prior to voting, the CEO or designee may review and revise the proposed assessment plan, which shall be presented to and discussed with the school faculty. Teachers and the principal will then vote on the adoption of the plan, which shall be adopted by majority vote. If the plan is not adopted, and the faculty, and/or the CEO or designee cannot agree on an alternative plan, the school’s assessment plan will consist of only the required assessments referenced in Article 44-32.1. The BOARD, by mutual agreement with the UNION, shall adopt assessment vote voting procedures by December 31, 2025. The status quo 2019-24 CBA provisions of Article 44-32 and assessment voting procedures shall govern assessment votes taken in spring of 2025 for the 2025-26 school year. The new provisions of Article 44-32 shall go into effect starting with assessments votes taken in the spring of 2026 for the 2026-27 school year.

44-32.3. Submission of Concerns. 

The District shall provide a way that staff can submit any issues and/or concerns (e.g. dedicated assessment email box) to Central Office in a confidential manner. CPS and CTU will meet quarterly to review their concerns and/or issues that are submitted.

44-32.4. Testing Equity. 

Whenever possible, and only if testing materials in the students’ home language are available by the test provider ( ISBE, College Board, etc), the Board will ensure testing equity for English language learners by providing all sections of mandated test and assessments (except for the English Language proficiency test) in the language of preference for the student and/or the parent.