District 65 Implements Renaissance STAR Assessments for Literacy Growth
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Evanston Community Consolidated School District 65 held a meeting on August 6, 2025, to discuss the upcoming transition to new literacy assessments for the 2025-2026 school year. The district is implementing the Renaissance STAR Reading and STAR Early Literacy assessments to enhance support for students' reading development.
The STAR Reading assessment, aimed at students in grades 3 through 8, is designed to evaluate reading skills and track growth throughout the academic year. It provides educators with insights into students' current performance levels and readiness for future learning. Meanwhile, the STAR Early Literacy assessment targets younger learners in kindergarten through second grade, focusing on foundational skills such as phonics, phonological awareness, and vocabulary.
Both assessments will be available in English and Spanish, catering to the needs of dual language learners. The computer-adaptive nature of the tests allows for a personalized experience, adjusting the difficulty of questions based on student responses. This feature aims to provide accurate assessments of each student's performance while minimizing testing time and maximizing instructional time.
The new assessments promise a quicker and less stressful experience for students, with immediate access to actionable results for educators and administrators. These results will include dashboards that highlight individual and class performance trends, resources aligned with educational standards, and tools for frequent monitoring of student progress. Families will receive clear reports detailing their child's growth and guidance on how to support learning at home.
In summary, the introduction of STAR Reading and STAR Early Literacy assessments is expected to provide a clearer understanding of each child's reading journey, ultimately helping every student succeed in their literacy development.
The STAR Reading assessment, aimed at students in grades 3 through 8, is designed to evaluate reading skills and track growth throughout the academic year. It provides educators with insights into students' current performance levels and readiness for future learning. Meanwhile, the STAR Early Literacy assessment targets younger learners in kindergarten through second grade, focusing on foundational skills such as phonics, phonological awareness, and vocabulary.
Both assessments will be available in English and Spanish, catering to the needs of dual language learners. The computer-adaptive nature of the tests allows for a personalized experience, adjusting the difficulty of questions based on student responses. This feature aims to provide accurate assessments of each student's performance while minimizing testing time and maximizing instructional time.
The new assessments promise a quicker and less stressful experience for students, with immediate access to actionable results for educators and administrators. These results will include dashboards that highlight individual and class performance trends, resources aligned with educational standards, and tools for frequent monitoring of student progress. Families will receive clear reports detailing their child's growth and guidance on how to support learning at home.
In summary, the introduction of STAR Reading and STAR Early Literacy assessments is expected to provide a clearer understanding of each child's reading journey, ultimately helping every student succeed in their literacy development.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting