AIMSweb is a comprehensive system perfectly suited for RTI implementations and differentiated instruction. AIMSweb provides multiple assessments for universal screening and progress monitoring, and web-based data management, charting and reporting.
For a single, annual per-student fee you receive:
- Unlimited access to downloadable, reproducible assessment probes for reading, language arts, math, and early literacy skills
- Use of an online data management and reporting system
- Access to self-produced training materials (training provided by our certified trainers are also available at an additional charge)
- Technical documentation
At the heart of the AIMSweb system is Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM), the method of monitoring student progress through direct, continuous assessment of basic skills. CBM assessment practices are based on 30 years of scientific research. These standardized tests are time efficient and inexpensive, yet produce accurate charts of student growth over time.
Each assessment takes one to eight minutes to administer, and includes Benchmark probes for universal screening and Targeted Progress Monitoring probes—up to 33 alternate forms per skill, per grade. Depending upon the measure, testing is done individually or in groups. Scores are entered or uploaded into the AIMSweb system for analysis and reporting. Pre-printed assessment forms are also available for purchase.
Tier 1: Benchmark
Benchmarks are established three times per year for all students, using grade-level assessment probes. Reports identify students at risk, help focus areas of instruction, evaluate student progress, and serve as an accountability and communication tool for system improvement.
Benchmark enables teachers to:
- Establish fall, winter, and spring benchmarks and generate reports by benchmark period or year
- Identify at-risk students early and accurately
- Evaluate Benchmark scores against state standards for specific skills to identify at-risk students and/or schools
- Monitor progress to know when classwide instruction is working, or needs to be changed
- Communicate growth and development of critical basic skills to parents, teachers, principals, district administrators, and the community
- Report improvement by student, classroom, grade, school, and district
- Access individual student’s and school’s historic rates of progress
- Demonstrate Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
- Evaluate changes in curriculum and service delivery
Downloadable assessments are included with AIMSweb. Depending upon which subscription you chose, these assessments include early literacy, reading, language arts and math for grades K–8. Spanish versions are also available for early literacy and reading. Up to 33 alternate forms are included for each probe, to enable frequent progress monitoring. AIMSweb offers the option to purchase pre-printed test materials, for those who prefer the convenience.
These CBM-based probes are quick and easy to administer and score. Most probes can be administered in 1–4 minutes, and many are group administered. Based on years of research, CBM has been proven to yield accurate, efficient indicators of student achievement. AIMSweb CBM-based assessments are valid and reliable, and sensitive enough to measure student performance.
How is CBM administered?
- AIMSweb CBM testing is administered ”paper/pencil” style
- Most assessments take 1 to 4 minutes to complete
- Testing is done individually or in groups, depending upon assessment
- Scores are entered or uploaded in to the AIMSweb system
Tier 2: Strategic Monitor
Strategic Monitor is monthly assessment for students who have been identified as at-risk in the Benchmark process. Increasing assessment frequency provides more opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of instructional changes, verify struggling student achievement levels, or confirm there is no deterioration in progress for minimally at-risk students.
Strategic monitor enables teachers to:
- Use monthly assessments for more frequent evaluation of struggling learners
- Monitor and report current achievement and improvement
- Ensure all students requiring intervention or additional help are identified and served
Tier 3: Targeted Progress Monitoring
Targeted Progress Monitoring is for frequent (typically weekly) assessment of students receiving intensive intervention. Created specifically for teachers, it provides powerful reports about students’ current level of skill proficiency and their progress, ranging from weekly to monthly intervals.
Expected rates of progress are prescribed by the teacher or district, based on IEP or other goals, and are compared to actual performance on CBM probes. Reports contain information on student progress, the need for curriculum/intervention program changes or modifications, and the effects of interventions. They also serve as an accountability and communication tool.
Targeted progress monitoring enables teachers to:
- Frequently monitor students in need of intensive instructional services
- Chart and report assessment results to demonstrate improvement and enable evidence-based evaluation
- Document the effects of intervention
- Use decision rules to determine satisfactory progress or the need for IEP or other goal revisions
- Generate and print professional reports for periodic and annual reviews
- Translate annual IEP or other academic goals into expected rate of progress automatically
- Enable data-driven decision-making based on assessment results
The AIMSweb online data management system enables you to create a wide array of reports at a variety of levels. Reporting features include:
- Reports at the student, classroom, grade, school, district, state, and national level
- Multi-year comparisons
- Comparisons of scores from school-to-school by grade
- Data on district-wide improvement across years
- NCLB data desegregation, including service code, ELL/ESL, meal status, and ethnicity
- Status reports for administrators
For more information, a demo, or to order:
call us at 866-313-6194 or visit AimsWeb.