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Board renews NWEA and i‑Ready assessment contracts, agrees to reduce testing overlap
Summary
Trustees approved renewal purchases for NWEA MAP ($108,100) and i‑Ready ($43,306) for 2025–26 and heard staff assurances the district will streamline assessment calendars to reduce testing burden on students.
The Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education authorized renewal purchases July 9 for two benchmark assessment suites the district uses to track student growth: NWEA MAP at $108,100 and i‑Ready at $43,306 for the 2025–26 school year.
Board members asked whether the purchases were renewals; staff confirmed both agenda items are renewals and noted the accompanying board document (PDF) indicated renewal language though the board‑docs text did not. Trustees raised concerns about overtesting and overlapping benchmark schedules. Superintendent and curriculum leaders said they and the teachers’ union had discussed the assessment calendar and agreed to reduce duplicated benchmarks so students will not take both NWEA MAP and i‑Ready at the same time.
Presenters described plans to streamline assessment frequency, limit unnecessary mid‑year benchmarks and align assessments with instruction so testing does not measure content students have not yet been taught. The board approved both purchases on voice/roll‑call votes after discussion; members requested clearer agenda language showing “renewal” on the face of future items.
