Cindy McKibben
Lead Interventionist & District Assessment Coordinator
CMcKibben@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
P: 907.714.8872
F: 907.262.6354
Assessments: Why Are They Important?
Parents have the right to make educational decisions for their child, including whether to participate in statewide testing. Please check with your school principal for more information.
Who?
Alaska students in grades 3-9
When?
The AK STARS assessment window in KPBSD is March 28-April 29, 2022. Contact your school for their specific date.
What is AK Star?
The Alaska System of Academic Readiness is Alaska’s innovative assessment system. The AK STAR System connects MAP Growth interim assessments with the end-of-the-year AK STAR summative assessment for English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.
In spring 2022, students will take both assessments and reports will show MAP Growth norm-referenced performance (RIT score) and summative proficiency scores to be used for accountability.
Beginning in 2023, students will take the MAP Growth in fall and winter and the AK STAR summative in spring. The AK STAR spring summative assessment’s adaptive design will give each student a unique testing experience that produces both a RIT growth score and a proficiency score.
Why should students participate in AK STAR in Spring 2022?
AK STAR is an innovative, balanced assessment system that aims to change the way we think about assessment and instruction across Alaska.
AK STAR intends to:
- produce more actionable data for teaching and learning
- recognize and celebrate students’ academic progress
- create a more efficient testing experience, thus maximizing classroom instruction time, capitalize on useful tools like MAP Growth, and
- streamline the student testing experience by reducing the number of tests students take to MAP Growth in fall and winter, and the AK STAR summative in spring (beginning in Spring 2023)
