A More Efficient Way to Screen Students’ Reading & Math Abilities
Illuminate Education offers an innovative solution for building effective MTSS programs through universal screening using FastBridge’s computer adaptive tests (CATs). These tests are designed to provide a precise assessment of students’ reading and math abilities by adapting assessment questions to each student’s skill level. This individualized approach helps identify what students know and what they need to learn.
Benefits of FastBridge Computer Adaptive Tests
FastBridge CATs are like having experienced content-area teachers personalize assessments for each student. The data obtained from CATs offer accurate measures of broad achievement and reliable predictions of student performance on high-stakes exams. By using CATs for universal screening, educators can pinpoint achievement gaps at various levels, enabling data-driven decisions on core instruction and interventions.
Precision and Efficiency in Assessment
FastBridge CATs utilize advanced psychometric models developed by Dr. Theodore J. Christ & Colleagues in consultation with Dr. David J. Weiss, an expert in computer adaptive testing. This collaboration aims to reduce testing time while maintaining precision. As a result, FastBridge CATs only take 15-30 minutes to administer, making them more efficient than other adaptive tests. This efficiency leads to a more nuanced and valid measurement of students’ reading and math abilities.
Comprehensive Reading and Math Assessments
FastBridge CATs assess various aspects of reading and math abilities. The reading assessment covers concepts of print, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, orthography, and morphology. On the other hand, the math assessment measures skills like counting and cardinality, operations and algebraic thinking, number and operations in Base Ten, number and operations with fractions, measurement and data, and geometry.