Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT)

The Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) measures student progress toward the Idaho Content Standards to ensure equity of instruction and academic expectations for all Idaho students. Data gathered from the ISAT informs educators, families, and policymakers on student’s learning in order to make decisions regarding the effectiveness of programs, the impact of curriculum and instruction, and the allocation of support and resources. Refer to Why Assessment Matters for more information.

• All students in grade 3-8 and 11 are required to take the ISAT in English Language Arts (ELA) and math. Science is administered to all students in grades 5, 8, and 11.
  For additional details regarding testing populations, refer to Testing Population Requirements. 

State-required ISAT testing occurs in the Spring. The state testing window generally runs from the second week in March through the second-to-last week in May. Schools and districts may set their own testing schedules within the state window. Interim assessments are optional and may be administered anytime during the summer up until the ISAT test window opens. For specific test window dates, refer to the Assessment Windows Chart.

English learners (ELs) may receive supports such as translated test directors. Spanish speaking students may take the math and science tests in Spanish or receive Text-to-Speech (TTS) in Spanish. For a full list of the accessibility features available on the ISAT, refer to the Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines (UAAG).

ELs within their first year of residence in the United States may receive a one-time exemption from taking the ELA ISAT. See the Participation Requirements section of the ISAT Test Administration Manual for more information.

Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans may receive designated supports and accommodations based on their documented needs. Refer to the Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines (UAAG) for a complete list of the accessibility features available on the ISAT.

Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities may qualify for the Idaho Alternate Assessment (IDAA). See the IDAA page for additional information and participation criteria.

The ISAT includes three tiers of accessibility features. Universal tools, such as the highlight or strike-through tool, are available to all students. Designated supports, such as color contrast or masking, may be used by any student if determined appropriate by educators and the student’s family. For more information on the three accessibility tiers and a list of available supports, see the Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines (UAAG),

ISAT scores reflect a student’s performance in relation to Idaho’s grade-level standards. Scores are reported on a four-level scale – Level 1: Below Basic, Level 2: Basic, Level 3: Proficient, and Level 4: Advanced. Refer to the ELA and Math Achievement Level Descriptors and the Science Achievement Level Descriptors for more information.

Students who receive a score of Level 3 or Level 4 are considered proficient on the ISAT. See the ISAT Cut Scores for what scale score is considered proficient at each grade level.

ISAT results are used at various levels to inform educational decisions. Students, families, educators, and policy makers use the data to make informed decisions regarding the effectiveness of programs and systems, the impact of curriculum and instruction, and the allocation of support and resources. See Why Do Assessments Matter for general ways ISAT data may be used. See the Accountability and Reporting Business Rules for specific ways ISAT data is used for school and district accountability.

Student progress on the ISAT is primarily measured through year-over-year comparisons of scale scores, which provide a more precise view of growth than achievement levels alone. Idaho’s uses a scale score-based growth model as part of its statewide accountability system in order to measure a student’s academic progress and set growth targets. Refer to ISAT Growth Calculation for a detailed overview of Idaho’s growth model and Creating Student Growth Goals for scale scores associated with each growth target.

For proficiency rate calculations, only students who are considered “continuously enrolled” count toward a school’s or district’s proficiency scores. A student is continuously enrolled if they are “enrolled in the same public school from the end of the first eight (8) weeks or fifty-six (56) calendar days of the school year through the state approved spring testing administration period, not including the make-up portion of the test window”.   Additional information can be found in the Accountability and Reporting Business Rules.

Access to the Idaho Portal is managed at the school or district level. Teachers and administrators should reach out to their school or district test coordinator to set up their account. Test coordinators should refer to the TIDE User Guide and TIDE Playlist for information on creating staff/user accounts.

Each year, all staff involved in the test administration process, including test administrators/proctors, must – at a minimum – receive test security training, read the Assessment Integrity Guide, complete the appropriate Test Administrator (TA) Certification Course, and sign the Assessment Confidentiality Agreement.

All manuals, guidelines, and resources are available in the Resources tab of the Idaho Portal.

All staff involved in the test administration process is responsible for ensuring test security and reporting any test incidents using school or district procedures. School and district test coordinators are responsible for training staff in test security policies and procedures.

District test coordinators are also responsible for reporting test incidents, including improprieties and security breaches, to a state ISAT test coordinator. For more information on test incidents, refer to the Assessment Integrity Guide and the ISAT Test Administration Manual (TAM).

It depends. Schools are encouraged to test all students, regardless of when they enroll. However, for accountability and reporting purposes, only students who enroll before mid-April and remain enrolled through the first Friday in May or the last day of school (whichever comes first) are included in participation rate calculations.

For the specific enrollment dates used each year, refer to the Accountability and Reporting Business Rules on the Idaho Department of Education’s accountability webpage.

First-year English Learners (ELs) must take the math and science assessments.

However, they may receive a one-time exemption from taking the ELA ISAT. See the Participation Requirements section of the ISAT Test Administration Manual for more information.

The ISAT is generally administered only to students enrolled in Idaho’s public schools. However, districts and charter schools may choose to offer the ISAT to private or homeschool students upon request, though they are not required to do so. If you are interested in having your student take the ISAT, contact the districts or charter schools in your area.

For additional information, including situations involving dually enrolled students, see the Testing Population Requirements.