Academic Screeners: Best Practices

The Academic Screeners in TouchMath are valid and reliable mathematics assessments for students from kindergarten through high school. These periodic assessments help educators understand where students are performing academically and identify areas for support and levels of grade-level readiness.

Best Practice Overview

Screening Assessments Help You:

• Identify Present Levels of Academic Performance (PLOP)
  • Indicate readiness compared to tested grade level
  • Indicate risk status for foundational numeracy skills
• Identify students who may benefit from targeted intervention
• Measure student growth over the course of the school year
• Suggest appropriate progress monitoring grade levels and domains
• Suggest initial placement into the TouchMath Curriculum

Administration and Accessibility

• Designed to be administered three times per school year — Fall, Winter, and Spring
• Includes accessibility features, such as audio support and instructional level testing
• Available in English and Spanish

Testing Environment Recommendations

To ensure the highest quality and most accurate results, it’s essential to maintain a consistent and structured testing environment.

• Many districts choose to follow the same testing protocols used for their district or state high-stakes assessments. Establishing and maintaining uniform testing environments helps ensure that data from the Academic Screeners accurately reflects each student’s true performance and grade-level readiness.
• If your district or school does not have previously developed test administration procedures, use the outline below as a guide to establish consistent proctoring practices. A well-organized, supportive testing environment helps ensure that results accurately reflect each student’s true performance and readiness.

Proctoring Guide Outline

Before Testing

• Access the Student Platform:  Academic Screeners are accessible on the student platform. Teachers can launch the platform from their MyTouchMath Dashboard or students can login independently to MyTouchMath to complete the assigned screening tests.
• Establish a Schedule:  Create a testing schedule that allows students to complete one mathematics screener during a planned session. Stagger testing times as needed so students can work at a comfortable pace and maintain focus.
• Prepare Materials:  Verify that each student has access to any approved testing supports, including headphones for the audio accommodations when appropriate.
• Support Students with Diverse Learning Needs:  Review accommodations and accessibility settings for students with IEPs, 504 plans, alternate standards instruction, or other specialized learning supports.

• Plan for Time and Environment:  Set aside adequate time for testing (approximately 35 minutes for completion of lower level tests and up to 45 minutes for higher level tests). Provide a quiet, low-distraction environment that supports student attention, regulation, and confidence. Post signage or communicate expectations to minimize interruptions during testing sessions.
• Set Expectations:  Explain to students that the screener is designed to help educators understand their current mathematical readiness and determine the best instructional supports and next learning steps. Encourage students to do their best and reassure them that the assessment is a tool for planning instruction, not a graded test.

During Testing

• Actively Monitor: Offer quiet encouragement and maintain focus without providing test-related assistance.
  • Small Group Administrations: Move throughout the room to ensure students are diligently working and answering questions.
  • 1:1 Administrations: Provide support as outlined in the student's IEP or 504 plan
• Manage Time: Remind students of time intervals as they work. Each screener should typically be completed in a single session.

After Testing

• Review Student Results:  Once students complete a screener, review both overall and domain-specific scores to identify strengths, instructional readiness, and areas where additional support may be needed.
• Analyze Testing Time and Effort:  Review the amount of time students spent completing the screener. If results suggest a student rushed, disengaged, or did not demonstrate their true understanding, consider allowing a retest to obtain a more accurate reflection of current performance.
• Share Results with Families and Support Teams:  Provide appropriate results and progress information to families, caregivers, and educational support teams as required by district procedures and federal or state guidance. Clear communication helps families understand student readiness, growth, and instructional next steps.

• Use Results to Plan Instruction and Intervention:  Use screener data to guide instructional planning, intervention decisions, flexible grouping, goal setting, and progress monitoring. Consider both overall readiness and domain-level performance when determining supports and next instructional priorities.