As identified in the WGSD Strategic Plan, district assessments are designed to monitor the academic and personal success of every student throughout the school year.

There are five purposes for administering and then analyzing and sharing results:

1. Assessments provide the student and parent with feedback regarding the student's success in a specific subject area.

2. Prior to administration, assessments are used by the teacher to define the learning outcomes for the unit. By considering the content and processes students will need to use on the assessment, the teacher can then make informed decisions about instructional strategies to use during the unit to support understanding of the learning outcomes assessed.

3. Results of assessments are used by teachers and specialists to evaluate individual student achievement, to make instructional decisions, to provide student counseling, and to determine eligibility and need for special programming.

4. Results of assessments are used by groups of teachers at the building and district level to discuss, consider, and share effective strategies that promote success for all students on the benchmark assessments, thus achieving our district's stated learning outcomes. The results of assessments are also used to design school, program and district improvement plans and instructional changes.

5. Results of assessments are used by the District and Board of Education to monitor district-wide student achievement, as defined by the Strategic Plan, and to evaluate the programs. Decisions about professional development support, resources, and instructional design can be made by analyzing assessment results. Information is also used for school and district evaluation of the ability to meet instructional goals and the ability to meet Adequate Yearly Progress.

Additional information can be found in the WGSD Assessment Plan on the Documents and Downloads page.