Instruments

WaKIDS is administered to all kindergarten students within the first few months of the school year. The inventory has three purposes, one of which is whole-child assessment. This assessment helps kindergarten teachers learn about the skills and strengths of the children in their classrooms so they can meet the needs of each child. Kindergarten teachers observe children during everyday classroom activities. This helps teachers find out what each child knows and can do at the beginning of the school year. Before October 31, teachers take an inventory of each child’s developing skills in six areas: social-emotional, physical, cognitive, language, literacy, and mathematics.

In accordance with guidance from Washington State, Highly Capable program focuses on six specific objectives for eligibility: 

• 11b: Persistence
• 11c: Problem-solving
• 18b: Emergent reading skills
• 20a: Counting
• 20b: Quantifying
• 20c: Connecting numerals and quantities

Further information regarding the WaKIDS process is located at: http://www.k12.wa.us/wakids/

The NNAT3 is a nonverbal measure of general ability. The Highly Capable Department uses the NNAT3 to predict student’s cognitive potential, irrespective of their verbal ability, primary language, or time spent in school. The NNAT3 is a 30-minute online test that will be administered during the school day. When used as a screening instrument, it can be administered to entire classrooms, in the classroom, and proctored by the classroom teacher. When used during the assessment process, trained proctors will administer the NNAT3 at a predetermined location and time of day, within the student’s school. 

The score obtained from the NNAT3 is called the Naglieri Ability Index, which ranges from 40 to 160 with an average of 100. 

This year, Northshore School District used the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT3) as one of its screening tools. Screeners are used to identify students with the potential for Highly Capable Program eligibility. Screening results will be communicated to schools and families in January. 

 

What is the NNAT3? The NNAT3 is a measure of general ability. 

What level of the NNAT3 will be administered to my student? Level administered is determined by the student’s birth date. Therefore, students within any grade level classroom may receive different levels of the NNAT3. The date of birth is entered during a student’s account creation, and the NNAT3 platform generates the level presented to the student. 

My student is color-blind. Can they still take the NNAT3? If your student is color-blind, they may have difficulty completing the NNAT3. The NNAT3 is a non-verbal test, and each item uses various colored shapes. If your student cannot distinguish between colors, we will use a different screening measure.

If I know my child's Naglieri Ability Index, how do I find their percentile rank?
 The official manual for the NNAT3 identifies the percentile ranks that correspond to each Naglieri Ability Index: NAI Table. (Link opens a PDF)

How is the NNAT3 administered? The NNAT3 is administered on a laptop. Students take the test during the school day. Students are given 30 minutes to complete the test. Extended time is available for students with documented extended time accommodations. Proctors follow directions for administration in order to ensure district-wide consistency of administration.

When is the NNAT3 typically administered? The department typically administers the NNAT3 each winter. 

How is performance on the NNAT3 measured? The score obtained from the NNAT3 is called the Naglieri Ability Index (NAI). A NAI of 100 is considered average, and 95% of students will score between 68 and 132. The Highly Capable Department uses a student’s National Percentile Rank (NPR) to determine eligibility for further testing. The NPR indicates how the student performed relative to other test-takers in their age group. A student with an NPR of 86 performed as well as, or better than, 86% of their same-age peers. An NPR between 25 and 75 is considered to be within the average range. 

What is the connection between my student’s NNAT3 percentile and classroom performance? The NNAT3 is a measure of a student’s cognitive ability. A student need not read, write, or speak English in order to take part in the test. The NNAT3 is not a measure of classroom performance and is not correlated to the standards and content of focus in a student’s current grade level. It is possible that a student will achieve a high NNAT3 percentile score, yet score differently on tools that measure academic achievement. 

How is the NNAT3 used in the HiCap eligibility process? NNAT3 performance is one data point within a larger portfolio of data. The NNAT3 alone will not qualify nor disqualify a student from potential eligibility for Highly Capable services. 

The IRR measures a student's reading level on a scale of A-Z, with Z being the most advanced level on the scale.  Classroom teachers are able to observe the student's reading behaviors one-on-one, engage in comprehension conversations that go beyond retelling, and make informed decisions regarding instruction. In Part I of the assessment, the student reads aloud from leveled fiction or nonfiction text while the teacher observes and notes the reader’s behaviors. In Part 2, the teacher conducts a comprehension conversation. Primary grade teachers in Northshore administer the test according to the district’s assessment calendar.

Star by Renaissance Learning is a screener and progress monitoring assessment. It assesses current student levels and progress toward grade-level standards.  In Northshore, Star is currently implemented in grades 3-5 to assess reading. Star is an online assessment that can be completed in about 20 minutes. During Star reading tests, students are presented text to read. After reading, students respond to multiple-choice comprehension questions.

Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) are required for state and federal accountability in the areas of English Language Arts (ELA) and math.  Students are assessed in grades 3-8 to measure progress toward state standards and in grade 10 for state assessment graduation requirements. SBA administration is conducted by student’s classroom teacher(s), typically in the spring of each school year. Further information regarding state testing is located here: http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/StateTesting/default.aspx

The Iowa Assessments (formerly known as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills) are standardized tests developed by the the University of Iowa College of Education. The Highly Capable Department administers the online Iowa Assessments when determining eligibility for services in reading and/or math. These tests are administered at one grade above the student's current grade level.