Assessment ~ ISASP

The Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) replaced the former Iowa Assessment in the spring of 2019, at which time students took the new test for the first time. The ISASP is an annual summative assessment intended to complement other types of assessments implemented at the district and school level and is closely aligned to the Iowa Core Standards. English Language Arts and Mathematics tests were administered to students in grades 3 through 11, and Science tests were administered in grades 5, 8, and 10.

Although the test is more challenging for students, it is better aligned with Iowa’s academic standards and will subsequently enable students to be prepared for future success and the demands of post-secondary education and the workforce.

Results from the ISASP will be useful in school improvement planning and reporting to district stakeholders. The Iowa Department of Education will use results in the Iowa School Performance Profiles. Because the test is exclusively used in Iowa, national percentile ranks will not be available, however, relationships between the ISASP and the ACT will reportedly be established in the future.

Performance level descriptors specify the level of performance on a test necessary for a given performance level and detail what a student knows or is able to do.