As a parent participating in Florida's school choice programs - whether through the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, or the Personalized Education Program (PEP) - understanding the required norm-referenced assessments is crucial for your child's educational journey.
Understanding Norm-Referenced Tests
Before diving into specific assessments, it's important to understand that norm-referenced tests compare your child's performance to other students nationwide who took the same test. These assessments help measure academic progress and ensure accountability in scholarship programs. In this blog, we’ll be highlighting four of the most popular norm-referenced tests.
IXL Real-Time Diagnostic
The IXL Real-Time Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that provides continuous insights into student achievement.
Key features:
Adaptive technology adjusts questions based on student responses
Covers Math and English Language Arts
Can be taken multiple times throughout the year
Provides immediate feedback and personalized recommendations
Accessible online from any device
Takes approximately 45-60 minutes per subject
Parents receive detailed reports showing their child's current working grade level and specific skill recommendations for improvement.
Please note: Niceville Tutoring currently offers the teacher-led IXL Real-Time Diagnostic for $250, available to be billed on the Step-Up platform. If your student is a current client, you are able to add the IXL Real-Time Diagnostic to an existing tutoring session for an additional $50. Following the administration of the assessment, families are responsible for filing their paperwork with PEP.
STAR Assessment
The STAR (Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading) is a computer-adaptive test developed by Renaissance Learning.
Key features:
Available for both Reading and Math
Takes approximately 20-30 minutes per subject
Provides immediate results
Adaptive format adjusts difficulty based on student responses
Can be administered multiple times per year to track growth
Generates parent-friendly reports with clear growth metrics
The STAR test is particularly useful for tracking progress throughout the school year, as it can be administered frequently without compromising its effectiveness.
Iowa Form E
The Iowa Form E is part of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) series, a comprehensive assessment system.
Key features:
Complete battery tests multiple subject areas:
Reading
Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Paper-based format
Grade-level appropriate content
Takes approximately 3-4 hours total (usually spread across multiple days)
Detailed parent reports including national percentile rankings
Typically administered once per year
The Iowa Form E provides a thorough evaluation of student achievement across core academic areas.
MAP Growth Assessment
The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test, created by NWEA, is another computer-adaptive assessment option.
Key features:
Available for Reading, Language Usage, Math, and Science
Adapts to student responses in real-time
Takes approximately 45-60 minutes per subject
Administered three times per year (fall, winter, spring)
Provides RIT scores that measure academic growth over time
Generates detailed parent reports with growth projections
MAP tests are particularly valuable for tracking growth across the school year and setting academic goals.
Stanford Achievement Test (Stanford 10)
The Stanford 10 is a comprehensive achievement test that has been used nationwide for decades.
Key features:
Tests multiple subject areas:
Reading
Mathematics
Language
Science
Social Science
Available in both online and paper formats
Grade-level appropriate content
Takes approximately 3-4 hours total
Provides detailed percentile rankings
Typically administered once per year
Includes listening comprehension for lower grades
Making Your Choice
When selecting a norm-referenced test for your scholarship program:
Check your specific program requirements, as not all tests may be approved for your scholarship type
Consider your child's learning style and testing preferences
Think about the frequency of testing you prefer
Factor in the time commitment required for each assessment
Consider whether you prefer computer-adaptive or fixed-form testing
Evaluate the depth and type of feedback provided by each assessment
Final Notes
Keep records of all test administrations and results
Submit testing results by the deadlines specified in your scholarship program
Use the assessment data to inform educational decisions and track progress
Remember that these tests are just one measure of your child's academic achievement
For specific questions about assessment requirements for your scholarship program, contact your scholarship funding organization or visit the Florida Department of Education's website
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