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:
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WIDA Screener for new ELL students (taken when students enter the district)
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WIDA Access for all ELL students (taken each year in February)
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M-STEP for students in grades 3-8, and 11 (taken each year in April)
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SAT for students in grade 11 (taken each year in April)
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PSAT testing for students in grades 8, 9, and 10 (taken each year in April)
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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:
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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.
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Students in grades 6-8 take the NWEA MAP Growth assessments in reading, mathematics, and science in the fall, winter and spring.
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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
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