Required Student Assessments

The purpose of this webpage is to summarize expectations for academic student assessments in Iowa schools.

The tables below identify all assessment requirements for districts and nonpublic schools per federal law and Iowa code during the 2024-25 school year.

2024-25 Required Student Assessments and Training

Federal Requirements

Required Assessment	Legal Citation	Grades Required	Testing Window	Comments
State academic assessment: Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP)	Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Iowa Code 256.7(21)(b)(2) and 279.60(3) Applies to public districts.	Per ESSA:* Reading and mathematics in grades 3-8, 10 and 11. Science in grades 5, 8 and 10. Per Iowa Code:* Reading and mathematics in grades 3-11. Science in grades 5, 8 and 10.	Per state statute, tests will be administered during the last quarter of the year. March 10-May 9, 2025.	All students in these grades are to take this assessment. The exception is students taking the state alternate assessment.
State alternate assessment: Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)	ESSA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)	Reading and mathematics in grades 3-11. Science in grades 5, 8 and 10.	Fall: Phase 1 Sept. 9-Oct. 25, 2024. Fall: Phase 2 Oct. 28-Dec. 20, 2024. Spring: Phase 1 Feb. 3-March 21, 2025. Spring: Phase 2 March 24-May 16, 2025.	For students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that meet qualifications for participating in Iowa’s alternate assessments.
Measure of annual progress and attainment of English: English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA21) Summative Alternate English Language Proficiency Assessment (Alt ELPA) Summative	Iowa Administrative Code rule 281.60.2(1) ESSA sections 1111(b)(2)(G)(i) and (ii); 1112(e)(3)(a) and (b); and 3113(b)(2)	ELPA21 Summative: Assessment for all K-12 English learners (ELs). Alt ELPA Summative: Assessment for K-12 English learners with significant cognitive disabilities that takes the place of the general ELPA21 Summative requirement.	ELPA21 Summative: Feb. 3-March 28, 2025. Alt ELPA Summative: Feb. 3-March 28, 2025.	100% participation is expected for ELPA21 and Alt ELPA Summative assessments. This requirement includes testing ELs with disabilities.
Identification of English learners: ELPA21 Dynamic Screener Alt ELPA Screener (New)	Iowa Administrative Code rule 281.60.2(1) ESSA sections 1111(b)(2)(G)(i) and (ii); 1112(e)(3)(a) and (b); and 3113(b)(2)	ELPA21 Dynamic Screener: Administered to all K-12 students new to a district whose Home Language Survey indicates a prominent use of a language other than English in the home. Note: Transfer students previously screened in another Iowa district do not need to be re-screened. Alt ELPA Screener: Administered in place of the general screener for English learners with significant cognitive disabilities.	ELPA21 Dynamic Screener: Year-round, as needed. This screening is part of statewide entrance procedures for the identification of English learners.	Screening, identification, and parent notification of program placement must occur within the first 30 days of enrollment. Alt ELPA Screener requires advance approval. Contact the Iowa Department of Education Assessment Team for more information.

Required Assessment

Legal Citation

Grades Required

Testing Window

Comments

State academic assessment:

Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP)

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Iowa Code 256.7(21)(b)(2) and 279.60(3)

Applies to public districts.

Per ESSA:* Reading and mathematics in grades 3-8, 10 and 11. Science in grades 5, 8 and 10.

Per Iowa Code:* Reading and mathematics in grades 3-11. Science in grades 5, 8 and 10.

Per state statute, tests will be administered during the last quarter of the year.

March 10-May 9, 2025.

All students in these grades are to take this assessment. The exception is students taking the state alternate assessment.

State alternate assessment:

Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)

ESSA

Individuals with
Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA)

Reading and mathematics in grades 3-11.

Science in grades 5, 8 and 10.

Fall: Phase 1 Sept. 9-Oct. 25, 2024.

Fall: Phase 2 Oct. 28-Dec. 20, 2024.

Spring: Phase 1 Feb. 3-March 21, 2025.

Spring: Phase 2 March 24-May 16, 2025.

For students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that meet qualifications for participating in Iowa’s alternate assessments.

Measure of annual progress and attainment of English:

English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA21) Summative

Alternate English Language Proficiency Assessment (Alt ELPA) Summative

Iowa Administrative Code rule 281.60.2(1)

ESSA
sections 1111(b)(2)(G)(i) and (ii); 1112(e)(3)(a) and (b); and 3113(b)(2)

ELPA21 Summative: Assessment for all K-12 English learners (ELs).

Alt ELPA Summative: Assessment for K-12 English learners with significant cognitive disabilities that takes the place of the general ELPA21 Summative requirement.

ELPA21 Summative: Feb. 3-March 28, 2025.

Alt ELPA Summative: Feb. 3-March 28, 2025.

100% participation is expected for ELPA21 and Alt ELPA Summative assessments. This requirement includes testing ELs with disabilities.

Identification of English learners:

ELPA21 Dynamic Screener

Alt ELPA Screener (New)

Iowa Administrative Code rule 281.60.2(1)

ESSA
sections 1111(b)(2)(G)(i) and (ii); 1112(e)(3)(a) and (b); and 3113(b)(2)

ELPA21 Dynamic Screener: Administered to all K-12 students new to a district whose Home Language Survey indicates a prominent use of a language other than English in the home.

Note: Transfer students previously screened in another Iowa district do not need to be re-screened.

Alt ELPA Screener: Administered in place of the general screener for English learners with significant cognitive disabilities.

ELPA21 Dynamic Screener: Year-round, as needed.

This screening is part of statewide entrance procedures for the identification of English learners.

Screening, identification, and parent notification of program placement must occur within the first 30 days of enrollment.

Alt ELPA Screener requires advance approval. Contact the Iowa Department of Education Assessment Team for more information.

* The Iowa School Performance Profiles is an ESSA-required report. Thus, Grade 9 is not included in the report, even though they are required by Iowa Code to be assessed.

State Requirements

Required Assessment	Legal Citation	Grades Required	Testing Window	Comments
Preschool assessment: Teaching Strategies GOLD®	Iowa Code 279.60(1) Child Development Coordinating Council Policy Applies to public districts community partners and Shared Visions Preschool grantees.	All PK or 4-year-old students in a Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program, Early Childhood Special Education Program, or Shared Visions Preschool Program.	Fall: Aug. 12-Nov. 18, 2024. Winter: Nov. 19, 2024-Feb. 24, 2025. Spring: Feb. 25-June 2, 2025.
Early literacy universal screening and progress monitoring assessment	Iowa Code 279.68	All students K-3, continuing for those students persistently at risk.	Fall: Aug. 26–Sept. 27, 2024. Winter: Jan. 6–Feb. 7, 2025. Spring: April 21-May 30, 2025.	Districts may use any approved universal screening assessment to meet this requirement.
Early Literacy Alternate Assessment (EL AA)	Iowa Code 279.68 IDEA	K-3, continuing for those students persistently at risk.	Fall: Aug. 26-Sept. 27, 2024. Winter: Sept. 30, 2024-Feb. 7, 2025. Spring: Feb. 10-May 30, 2025.	For students with an IEP that meet qualifications for participating in Iowa’s alternate assessments.
Diagnostic literacy assessment	Iowa Code 256D(1)(b)(1) Applies to public districts	All K-3 Students.		The required early literacy universal screening measures under Iowa Code 279.68 may be used to meet this requirement.
End-of-unit assessment for students taking one-half unit of a U.S. Government course.	Iowa Code 256.11(5)(b) Applies to public districts and accredited nonpublic schools	Applies to course, not grade level.	At the end of the course.

Christi Donald, Student Assessment Consultant

Email Address

christi.donald@iowa.gov

Phone(s)

515-238-4715