District Testing

  • Yelm Community Schools utilizes a number of benchmark assessments in the area of literacy, math and social emotional learning.  These assessments help inform instruction, provide data on student growth and are valuable tools in determining how YCS students are performing compared to other students across the nation.  Administration is during the fall, winter and spring.  They are important for determining the health of YCS instructional programs.

    Literacy

    • DIBELS: This is an assessment given to K-5 students that focuses primary on the decoding aspect of reading.  It is made up of a variety of subtests and is administered one-on-one with a teacher.

    • aRead: This is an assessment given to grades 2-10 that focuses primarily on the comprehension aspect of reading.  It is a computer-based adaptive test that adjusts in response to how students answer each question.

    Mathematics

    • EarlyMath: This is assessment given to students in grades K and 1st.  It measures mastery of skills based on early grade standards.  It consists of a variety of subtests and is administered one-on-one with a teacher.

    • aMath: This is an assessment given to grades 2-10 that focuses on math standards. It is a computer-based adaptive test that adjusts in response to how students answer each question.

    Social Emotional

    • SAEBRS: This is a survey given to grades 2-12 that asks basic questions related to social, academic and emotional behavior characteristics using a four point scale for student responses. The administration is computer based.

    • DESSA:  The Deveraux Students Strengths Assessment(DESSA) is a teacher-completed rating survey that pinpoints each child's specific strengths and opportunities for growth. The survey provides information about eight key social and emotional competencies that are aligned to the CASEL framework.

    • Belonging Survey:  The Belonging Survey is a student completed survey done twice a year. The purpose of the survey is to determine whether or not students feel a sense of belonging in their school. YCS is striving to create learning environments where students feel like they belong and are safe. The results of this survey inform the impact of efforts at each school to create just such an environment.