District outlines new assessment mix: DNA benchmarks, Navi formative checks and FastBridge reading monitoring

District staff walked the board through the roles of three assessment systems and why the mix matters for instruction and state testing alignment.

"DNA is our benchmarking tool" and is administered three times per year, Katrina Queta told the board. She described DNA as useful for benchmarking growth across grade levels and for correlational data to predict AASA/ACT outcomes.

Queta said Navi (short for Navigator) was offered to the district free by the state this year as part of Project Momentum. "Navi is a psychometric twin to AASA," she said, explaining that it mirrors the state assessment and gives teachers short (8-13 minute) competency checks that can be repeated up to three times to build familiarity and provide immediate practice before the high-stakes test.

FastBridge remains the district's K-5 early reading screener and progress-monitoring tool, Queta added, used for phonics, fluency and comprehension and for rapid intervention when students show reading deficits.

Board members asked about the cost and future funding for Navi. Queta said the platform is free this year through state arrangements but its future depends on state-level adoption and procurement decisions.

Queta cautioned against testing for testing 's sake and emphasized the district's priority: use assessments that produce actionable instructional plans. "If we're going to give a student a test, it's because we are going to make an action plan around that outcome," she said.

Board members generally supported keeping Navi available while monitoring training and implementation needs.