The United States Department of Education, State of Wisconsin, and the Hortonville Area School District each require a variety of assessments for a variety of purposes. Below is a list of the assessments, their subject matter, purpose, mandate, and if possible, time spent to schedule and take the assessment, and distribute results.
Please direct any questions you have on these or other assessments to your child's principal or our District Assessment Coordinator, Janna Cochrane.
Wisconsin Forward Exam
The Forward Exam gauges how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards and how well districts and the state are supporting students to meet those standards.
Law/Policy Requiring the Assessment
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Wisconsin State Statute 118.30
Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grades 3-8 in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics
- Grades 4 and 8 in science,
- Grades 4, 8, and 10 in social studies
Time Spent Taking Assessment
The Forward Exam is untimed.
Assessment Schedule
The Forward Exam is administered annually in the spring. See the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Testing Calendar for more detailed information.
Results Format and Schedule
Students receive individual reports.
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
DLM assesses the academic progress of students with significant cognitive disabilities. It is administered online.
Law/Policy Requiring the Assessment
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Wisconsin State Statute 118.30
Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grades 3-11 in ELA and mathematics
- Grades 4, 8-11 in science
- Grades 4, 8, and 10 in social studies
Time Spent Taking Assessment
DLM test is untimed.
Assessment Schedule
DLM is administered annually in the spring. See the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Testing Calendar for more detailed information.
Results Format and Schedule
Students receive individual reports and learning profiles.
PreACT Secure
PreACT Secure can be used to predict future ACT scores and possible areas of strength and challenges.
Law/Policy Requiring the Assessment
Wisconsin State Statute 118.30
Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grades 9 and 10 for reading, English, mathematics, and science
Time Spent Taking Assessment
PreACT Secure assessments take 2 hours, 50 minutes to complete, including breaks.
Assessment Schedule
PreACT is administered annually in the spring. See the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Testing Calendar for more detailed information.
Results Format and Schedule
Students receive individual reports.
ACT with Writing
ACT with writing helps students understand what they need to learn next to build rigorous high school course plans and identify career areas that align with their interests. It can be used for college enrollment, scholarships, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility requirements.
Law/Policy Requiring the Assessment
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Wisconsin State Statute 118.30
Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grade 11 for reading, English, mathematics, science, and writing
Time Spent Taking Assessment
ACT with writing takes 3 hours, 55 minutes to complete, including breaks.
Assessment Schedule
ACT with Writing is administered annually in the spring. See the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Testing Calendar for more detailed information.
Results Format and Schedule
Student Score Reports are available online and mailed 5-8 weeks after the assessment. This may be subject to change. See the assessment web page for the most up-to-date information.
ACCESS
ACCESS allows educators, ELs, and families to monitor EL’s progress in acquiring academic English in the domains of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Law/Policy Requiring the Assessment
ESSA and Wisconsin State Statute 115.96(1)
Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grades K-12, English language proficiency for students identified as English Learners (ELs)
Time Spent Taking Assessment
The ACCESS test is untimed, and students have the time needed to produce scorable content. ACCESS typically takes 1-4.5 hours to complete, depending on grade and test format.
Assessment Schedule
ACCESS is administered annually in the winter. See the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Testing Calendar for more detailed information.
Results Format and Schedule
PDF student score reports are available in multiple languages, with paper copies provided in English during the spring. Districts distribute parent school reports either in late spring or early in the next school year.
Assessment of Reading Readiness
Districts must assess fundamental reading skills in order to inform and identify students with reading needs. Districts are required to provide interventions or remedial services to address the needs consistent with the state standards in reading and language arts.
Law/Policy Requiring the Assessment
Wisconsin State Statute 118.016
Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grades 4K-3 for reading readiness
Time Spent Taking Assessment
AimswebPlus can take students between 5 and 30 minutes with increased time for additional diagnostic measures.
Assessment Schedule
Reading Readiness assessments must be administered at least annually in the required grades.
Results Format and Schedule
If students fall below the 25th percentile, results will be shared with their parents within 15 days of completion, either in print or digitally, in the fall, winter, and spring.
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
NAEP assessment results help produce the Nation’s Report Card. NAEP is a survey given each year to a sample of schools selected to participate. Districts that receive Title-I funds agree to have schools participate.
Law/Policy Requiring the Assessment
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Subject Matter and Grade Levels Assessed
- Grades 4 and 8 for reading and mathematics (only if the school is selected to participate)
Time Spent Taking Assessment
Students typically spend 1.5-2 hours to complete the NAEP, depending on grade and test format.
Assessment Schedule
Each sample school has one test date, between the last week of January and the first week of March.
Results Format and Schedule
Results are reported at the state and national levels.
The Hortonville Area School District Student Assessment policy 2623 states all students shall participate in the State-required tests, unless excluded by an I.E.P. or Section 504 plan. When a parent or guardian requests that the student be excused from participating in the WSAS, this request must be honored at grades 4, 8, 9-11, per Wis. Stats. 118.30(2)(b)3. A parent should submit a written request for student opt-out to the principal.
