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School Improvement, Title I and Assessments

The philosophy of the School Improvement and Title 1 Department follows the US Department of Education aim of "ensuring that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach, at minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments."

Student Assessments

Kalamazoo Public Schools promotes a balanced assessment system of state/national assessments, district standardized assessments, and classroom formative assessments.

Required State testing includes the following:

  • WIDA Screener for new ELL students (taken when students enter the district)

  • WIDA Access for all ELL students (taken each year in February)

  • M-STEP for students in grades 3-8, and 11 (taken each year in April)

  • SAT for students in grade 11 (taken each year in April)

  • PSAT testing for students in grades 8, 9, and 10 (taken each year in April)

  • MI-Access testing for students in grades 3-8, and 11 (taken each year in April, for students identified on their IEP as taking the alternate state test)

District Standardized Assessments:

  • Students in grades K-5 take the FastBridge aReading and aMath assessments in the fall, winter, and spring. In addition, regular progress monitoring is conducted using FastBridge assessments. 

  • Students in grades 6-8 take the NWEA MAP Growth assessments in reading, mathematics, and science in the fall, winter and spring.

  • Students in grades 9-12 take the Horizon SAT/PSAT aligned assessments in fall and winter. 

Michigan Student Assessments

The School Improvement, Title I and Assessments office is located at the Administration Building located at 1220 Howard Street.
Phone: (269) 337-0065

The Title I Parent Office is located at the Community Education Center (CEC), 714 S. Westnedge Ave., Room 203.
Phone: (269) 337-0063

Geoff Howe

Geoff Howe
Director of School Improvement, Title I and Assessments

Angie Thomas
Administrative Assistant

Dr. Lindsay Noakes
Coordinator of Assessments, Research and Evaluation 

Joseph Birdsall
District Data Specialist

Robin Greymountain
Homeless Liaison and Title I Literacy Facilitator