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District to streamline testing, add K‑1 oral screener and drop CogAT from gifted identification
Summary
Donna Roper presented a biennial assessment plan that trims duplicative testing, adds a 1‑minute oral language screener for K‑1, adopts CAP‑T Read Basics in some grades, removes CogAT and aligns secondary math screening to new curriculum.
Donna Roper, the district’s director of research, assessments and AI integration, told the St. Cloud Public School District Board the biennial assessment update for 2026–27 is focused on reducing duplicative testing and aligning measures to instruction.
“We assess not to label, but to launch,” Roper said, summarizing the guiding principle for the review. She outlined four types of changes: adding state‑required measures, adjusting schedules to reduce testing burden, removing redundant tools, and replacing some secondary tools with assessments better aligned to instruction.
Key changes the board heard:
• Kindergarten–Grade 1: the district will add a brief (approximately one‑minute) oral language sentence‑repetition screener to identify early language needs and to reduce overlap in existing measures.
• Grades 4–5 and gated screening: CAP‑T Read Basics will be used in grades 4 and 5 and given in a gated screening approach (fall and winter for broader screening; spring only for students not meeting benchmarks), and at select immersion grade levels to limit testing burden for multilingual students.
• Cognition measure: the district plans to remove the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) from routine use for gifted identification, citing time and cost; Roper said staff will rely on multiple measures and classroom assessments instead.
• Secondary alignment: STAR Reading is scheduled to be replaced by CAP‑T Read Basics at secondary levels and the district will use assessments embedded in a new secondary math curriculum as the universal math screener for grades 6–12.
Roper emphasized that state‑required assessments (MCAs and ACCESS) will continue, and that the district will maintain progress monitoring and targeted supports for students with disabilities and English learners. She said the district expects to publish the plan on the website by the first day of school and that many changes will take effect for the 2027 school year, noting a few items remain contingent on pending state guidance.
The board did not take action tonight; Roper said staff will proceed with curriculum adoption, summer professional development, and communications with families about testing schedules.
