Which Benchmark Assessments Should I Administer to My Student(s)?

 

 

Benchmarks

Service providers may select the areas of assessments that are appropriate for an individual student. Baseline data is generated from each assessment that can be compared for growth over a period of time.
 
The GPS in Unique Learning System® has several tools that can aid the service provider team in determining which Benchmark Assessments are appropriate for the individual student.  The Profile records observational information on the current abilities of unique learners. The results of the Profile will help guide the team in the selection of assessments by providing suggested instructional strategies that will increase levels of skill performance in areas of standards-based learning. The descriptions and suggested strategies should be key factors in the decision-making process for selecting assessments in the GPS.



After completion of a Profile, service providers can select skills to be tracked for each student in the GPS. These skills are most likely chosen from the student’s IEP and in conjunction with the results of the completed Profile. The service provider team should decide on the appropriate skills to be tracked for each individual student. Tracking a skill gives an appropriate recommendation on which Benchmark Assessments the student should take in the GPS.

The service provider team should make decisions on which assessments will be the most useful for every student. It is not realistic or beneficial that a student is assessed with every benchmark in the GPS each school year. The Benchmark Assessments are provided in a variety of areas and should be selected based on the student's current needs for assessment and instruction.

 

Profiles

The results of the Student Profile will help guide the service provider team in this selection.  The Profile provides a brief description of an individual student's current abilities and skills in relation to standards-based learning tasks. The Profile also provides suggested instructional strategies that will increase levels of skill performance in areas of standards-based learning. The descriptions and suggested instructional strategies should be key factors in the decision-making process for selecting assessments in the GPS.

 

Tracked Skills

After completion of a Profile, teachers can select skills to be tracked for each student in the GPS. These skills are most likely chosen from the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and in conjunction with the results of the completed Profile. The educational team should decide on the appropriate skills to be tracked for each individual student.  Tracking a skill gives an appropriate recommendation on which Benchmark Assessments the student should take in the GPS.

 

 

Student Planning Guide

The Student Planning Guide is a form provided in the GPS that the educational team could use to select the assessments for each student.

The guide is designed to be used to plan-

• When the assessments should be administered throughout the school year
• Which assessments will be administered
• Any goals and objectives that are related specifically to the student

The Student Planning Guide is located inside each student's GPS area and is available to download in a PDF format.