The University of Iowa College of Education’s Iowa Testing Programs has replaced the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) with the Iowa Assessments, the Iowa City Press Citizen reported. According to officials behind the revamped tests, the changes will lead to benefits for both students and teachers.
For instance, Catherine Welch, director of statewide testing programs at the University, told the news source that the Iowa Assessments allow educators to track students’ growth from year to year.
"They will have reports that provide more detailed information about a student’s individual performance at a standard level," Welch told the news outlet. "It can serve as a guide for how a child has changed over the years and where that child needs additional help and where more progress is expected."
Welch added that the revised tests were designed based on content that makes up the Iowa Core and the Common Core State Standards.
According to the University’s website, the Iowa Assessments are available at different levels and measure students’ abilities in broad academic areas, such as reading, social studies, math and science. The tests also focus on important skills, including the capitalization of words and punctuation.
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