Cary School District 26

Cary 26 administers a combination of assessments as a tool to help our teachers gain insight into our students areas of strength and continued growth. Assessments help our teachers set goals with our students, progress monitor and target instruction to best meet the needs of all our students. 

2023-2024 Benchmark & Achievement Testing Dates 

STAR 360 Renaissance - Learn More | Aprende Mas
Reading & Math Benchmark test for all K-8 students 
August 28 - September 8 (fall)
January 16 - January 26 (winter)
April 29 - May10 (spring)

KIDS - Kindergarten Individual Development Survey - Learn More
Kindergarten Benchmark Observations
October 16 - October 27 

ACCESS for ELLs - Learn More
Grades K- 8, English Language Learners only
January 17 - March 5

CogAT - Cognitive Abilities Test 
Grades 2 and 5 only
February 6 - February 24

IAR - Illinois Assessment of Readiness - Learn More
Grades 3-8 only
March 4 - April 19

DLM - Dynamic Learning Maps - Alternate Assessment - Learn More
Grades 3-8 only, select students 
March 13 - May 8

ISA - Illinois Science Assessment - Learn More
Grades 5 and 8 only 
March 1 - April 30 

Click here to open PDF of assessment schedule

How to Help as a Parent or Guardian 
Cary 26 recognizes the importance of family involvement when it comes to the benefits and success of our students, educators and families. The following resources are a starting point for partnering together to help support your child’s learning experience at home: 

Reading 

• Build Successful Readers: Strategies for Parents - English
• Construir lectores exitosos: Estrategias para los padres - Español
  
• Supporting Your Child in Reading/Language Arts at Home
  
• How Families Can Support Reading Practice Outside of School 

Math

• Supporting Your Child in Mathematics at Home
• Envision Support K-5
• Envision Support 6-8
• Envision Algebra 1
• Helping Your Child Learn Mathematics K-5 - English
  
• Cómo ayudar a su hijo con las matemáticas K-5 - Español

Additional Resources 

• STAR Assessment / Evaluación STAR
  • Understanding the STAR Parent Report - English
  • Entendiendo el Informe STAR Para Padres – Español
  • Example STAR Parent Letter/Report
    
  • Renaissance STAR - Math Score Definitions
    
  • Renaissance STAR - Reading Score Definitions
• CBM Assessment / Evaluación CBM
  • Understanding the Parent (Kinder) CBM report - English
  • Entendiendo el Informe CBM para Padres (Kinder) – Español
  • Example CBM Parent Letter/Report
• Gifted Enrichment Handbook
• Illinois State Report Cards