Schedule Change: FAST Assessments

FAST Assessment Changes:

Willowwind School is proud to be members of  two education accreditation bodies - both the State of Iowa Department of Education and ISACS (Independent Schools Association for the Central States).  Our dual accreditation helps us provide your child with the best education imaginable and holds us to high standards with schools around the state and the country.

We also pride ourselves on working to make decisions that best benefit our student population and their individual needs.  On Monday, prior to implementation of the FAST Assessments, we learned that Willowwind's non-public school status provides us with the option to complete FAST assessments or to continue using our current science-based assessments to gather reading data.  Given that our current reading assessments provide students with developmentally appropriate reading instruction and provide teachers with concrete data to further personalize reading lessons and experiences, Willowwind has decided to forgo this additional reading assessment (FAST).  K-2 students will continue to complete periodic assessments through On-the-Mark Assessments and Developmental Reading Assessments (DRAs).  The information pulled from these already implemented assessments helps teachers plan for reading instruction, create personalized education goals, and provide specific continued areas of focus for each K-2 student.

We are thrilled to be given the options to pick from a variety of effective assessment practices and are happy to continue with our already established routine. If you have any questions about our past, current, and future assessment practices please don't hesitate to contact Willowwind School.  Michelle Beninga, our Curriculum Coordinator, is happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.  You can reach her via email at michelleb@willowwind.org.  Thank you for your understanding and your support.