In education, assessment is a way for teachers to understand how well your child is doing in school. There are two main types: formative and summative assessments.

1. Formative Assessment: This is like a check-up along the way. It helps teachers see how your child is doing while they're learning. It's not about grades, but more about figuring out what your child understands and what they might need more help with. Formative assessments can be things like quizzes, class discussions, or projects done throughout the school year.

2. Summative Assessment: This is like a summary at the end. It helps teachers see how much your child has learned over a period of time, like at the end of a unit or a semester. Summative assessments often include tests or big projects that show what your child has learned overall.

Both types of assessment are important because they help teachers understand how to best support your child's learning journey. They also give parents insights into how their child is progressing academically.

Ohio’s State Tests are summative tests, which means students take tests at the end of the year for grades 3-8 and they take end-of-course tests for high school. The tests measure how students statewide are developing the knowledge and skills described in Ohio's Learning Standards for each subject area. The test results also help measure each public school and district’s performance, which is reflected on its annual Ohio School Report Card. Students in grades 3 - 8 and high school take Ohio’s State Tests in English language arts and mathematics. At certain points in middle and high school, these students also take state tests in science and social studies.

In addition, at the beginning of each school year, children in public and community school kindergarten programs are assessed using Ohio’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment-Revised. This assessment includes ways for teachers to measure a child’s readiness for engaging with instruction aligned to the kindergarten standards. The state of Ohio also requires school districts to administer the ACT for juniors in the spring each year.

The following is a list of assessment the Mapleton Local School District administers as required by the state of Ohio:

• Kindergarten Readiness Assessment-Revised (KRA-R); kindergarten.
• Ohio State Tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics; grades 3-8.
• Ohio State Tests in Science; grades 5 and 8
• End-of-Course exams in:
  • Algebra I
  • Geometry
  • Biology
  • English Language Arts (grade 10)
  • American History
  • American Government.
• ACT; juniors.

More information about state testing requirements can be found on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce testing website.

A school district might use diagnostic assessments to gain a detailed understanding of students' individual strengths, weaknesses, and learning needs. These assessments help educators identify any gaps in students' knowledge or skills early on, allowing for targeted intervention and support. By pinpointing specific areas where students may need extra help, diagnostic assessments enable teachers to tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs of their students effectively. Additionally, diagnostic assessments provide valuable data that informs instructional planning, curriculum development, and resource allocation within the school district. Ultimately, by utilizing diagnostic assessments, school districts can better ensure that every student receives the personalized support they need to succeed academically.

The Mapleton Local School District administers the following state-approved assessments:

• mClass/DIBELS reading diagnostic assessments in grades K-3 as required by the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
• I-Ready reading and mathematics assessments in grades K-8 to monitor student growth.
• I-Ready gifted screening assessments in reading and mathematics in grades 3-8.
• Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) gifted screening in grades 2 and 6. 

Information about the above assessments can be found using the links below.

mClass/DIBELS

I-Ready

Gifted Screening

Cognitive Abilities Test