GERMANTOWN HILLS SD 69

The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to measure how well students are meeting their state learning standards in English Language Arts (ELA), math, and science. To do this, states give assessments based on those standards. Most students take the general state assessment, while federal law allows states to provide an alternate assessment for about 1% of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The "overall" percentage shown combines results from all assessments in that subject.

ACT Suite

At the high school level, Illinois uses the ACT Suite for statewide science assessments:

• Grade 9: PreACT 9 Secure
• Grade 10: PreACT Secure
• Grade 11 (and Grade 12 when required): ACT with Writing

Each student is assigned a performance level based on their science score. These levels describe how performance aligns with expectations for that grade level:

• Level 1: Below Proficient
• Level 2: Approaching Proficient
• Level 3: Proficient
• Level 4: Above Proficient

For purposes of the Illinois Report Card, Proficient includes students at Proficient or Above Proficient, and Not Proficient includes students at Approaching Proficient or Below Proficient.

To see what students typically know and can do at each level, visit the ISBE Performance Level Descriptors webpage.

ISA

The Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) is the required state assessment for students in Grades 5 and 8. Each student is assigned a performance level based on their overall scale score. These levels describe how performance aligns with expectations for that grade level:

• Level 1: Below Proficient
• Level 2: Approaching Proficient
• Level 3: Proficient
• Level 4: Above Proficient

Proficient includes students at Proficient or Above Proficient, and Not Proficient includes students at Approaching Proficient or Below Proficient.

To see what students typically know and can do at each level, visit the ISBE Performance Level Descriptors webpage.

DLM

The Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment (DLM-AA) is the required state assessment for students in Grades 5, 8, and 11 (and 12 when required) with the most significant cognitive disabilities. As determined by the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), these students may take the DLM-AA when participation in the state's regular assessments is not appropriate, even with accommodations.

Unlike other assessments, DLM-AA does not use raw or scale scores. Instead, it classifies students into performance levels based on patterns of skills mastered across the Essential Elements in science. These levels describe how performance aligns with expectations for that assessment:

• Level 1: Emerging
• Level 2: Approaching Target
• Level 3: At Target
• Level 4: Advanced

Proficient includes students At Target or Advanced, and Not Proficient includes students at Emerging or Approaching Target.

To see what students typically know and can do at each level, view the DLM-AA Science Performance Level Descriptors.