i-Ready
Annual i-Ready Parent Meeting
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) provides parents with i-Ready data reports after each testing window is complete. CCPS annually holds parent information meetings about i-Ready assessments. During these meetings, staff share information for parents to interpret data included on their child’s report.
CCPS hosted a virtual Zoom meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, for parents to learn about i-Ready assessments and reports. i-Ready diagnostic assessments were administered to students in both reading and mathematics this fall. The meeting recording and presentation are available below.
Parent Night Frequently Asked Questions
- Presentation Questions
- For Families Report Questions
- i-Ready Assessment Questions
- Other Assessment Questions
- Technology Questions
- Personalized Instruction (MyPath) Questions
- Instructional Program Questions
Presentation Questions
Will the slides be emailed out to the attendees after the presentation?
Tonight's power point presentation will be posted on the CCPS website for all parents to view along with a recording of tonight's meeting.
The district resources and information about i-Ready are all posted on the Charles County Public Schools website: www.ccboe.com/academics/iready
For Families Report Questions
Are the results also available online?
Yes, you can access your child's report online. We'll show you how in this presentation.
When will we get results from the fall i-Ready?
Fall i-Ready results are available in the students' accounts now. The window closed on October 4th, so both reading and math results are posted now. Please contact the teacher for a paper copy of the reports.
For students in middle school, what teacher do we ask for a copy of the report?
Students take the iReady assessment in reading and math. If your student is in middle school, you can reach out to their language arts (reading) and/or math teacher.
What is this year’s report code?
The 2024-2025 report code for all grades and schools is 42NC4G.
What should I expect to see on the winter report?
The winter report will include your child’s results from both the winter and fall i-Ready assessments (if your child has taken both tests). This will allow you to see the growth from fall to winter in the overall score and each area measured on the test.
If the child has a long-term sub for their teacher, will they be aware to be able to help with PDF/Paper copy? And provide adequate support in the classroom?
If your child has a long-term sub, you can still contact them. They can get assistance from the Instructional Leadership Team in their school with printing and sending reports.
Are you able to compare the performance of your child relative to the highest performance for kids in his age bracket?
If you're looking to compare your child's results to others in the same grade level, you would look at the percentile score. This score tells you what percent of all students your child performed the same as or higher.
Second grade doesn't identify on level or grade level. It’s identified as developing or consistently developing, so how is that articulated in the stretch growth?
The performance indicators include:
- Mid or Above Grade Level (green stripe)
- Early Grade Level (green)
- One Grade Level Below (yellow)
- Two Grade Levels Below (red)
- Three or More Grade Levels Below (red stripe)
Stretch goals are based on previous performance on iReady. Stretch growth is a predictive process that takes into account how much growth the average student will make based on performance on the diagnostic assessment unlike some tests that have ranges.
Is there an average increase from fall to winter?
Typical growth is the average annual growth (from fall to spring) for an average student taking the i-Ready diagnostic assessment. Stretch growth is an ambitious, but attainable, level of annual growth that puts below-grade level students on a path to proficiency and puts on-grade level students on a path to advanced proficiency levels. The targets are set from the results of the baseline diagnostic (usually the fall assessment) and remain the targets for the school year. Contact your child’s teacher for your child’s specific typical and stretch growth goals.
Is approaching grade level the same as needs improvement?
i-Ready reports performance based on how students perform relative to standards mastery at various points in the year. The performance indicators include:
- Mid or Above Grade Level (stripped green)
- Early Grade Level (green)
- One Grade Level Below (yellow)
- Two Grade Levels Below (red)
- Three or More Grade Levels Below (stripped red)
If your child scored 600 where are they placed?
A score of 600 would mean something different depending on the grade level of the student and the time of year he or she is testing. The For Families Report for your student will show the range of scores that are considered on-grade level for each assessment.
i-Ready Assessment Questions
Is this for pre-kindergarten students or starting at first grade?
Pre-Kindergarten students do not take the i-Ready assessment.
Will kindergarten use i-Ready? Should kindergarten parents be a part of the meeting?
Kindergarten students are using the personalized instruction (MyPath) through i-Ready. Some students may take the assessment during the winter assessment window.
What determines if a kindergarten student is tested?
Students in Kindergarten may test in the winter/spring. This is based on criteria that are currently being discussed by the Early Childhood Office.
Is i-Ready applicable to Kindergarten students?
Yes, i-Ready is applicable to Kindergarten students. It helps identify early literacy and math skills, such as letter recognition, phonological awareness, and basic number concepts. The results guide teachers in providing targeted support to meet each child’s individual learning needs.
Will students in high school take the test?
Most high school students will not take i-Ready. High school students that have IEP goals in reading and math take the assessment for that subject area. Other high school students do not take this assessment.
Is 504 the same as IEP?
504 Plans are separate from IEPs. Only students with reading and math IEP goals take the assessment(s) in high school.
Can you request that a high school take the test?
Only students with reading and math goals take the assessment(s) in high school.
When exactly will the students take the assessment next?
The next testing window is January 2 - February 7, 2025.
Why are tests done right after winter break after being out for several days?
Our winter testing window was selected because we need at least 12 weeks between test administrations to show growth, so testing windows are spaced out within the school year. We give the schools the full window, and teachers can schedule as needed within the window. Teachers are not required to test the first day of the window, but we encourage schools to start as early as possible so that all students can be tested.
When is the spring testing window?
The spring testing window is April 28 - June 4, 2025.
Do students take i-Ready three times a year?
Students in grades 1-7 take i-Ready three times per year. Students in grade 8 take fall and winter only.
Will the spring i-Ready be around the same time as the yearly standardized testing time?
There is some overlap between the state assessments scheduled in May and the spring i-Ready assessment window. Schools plan within the testing window so students are not taking both tests at the same time.
Is the i-Ready app that they can access connected to their individual assessments?
The i-Ready assessment and personalized instruction are separate from the other assessments students take in class. Results of other assessments are not used to place a student into i-Ready personalized instruction lessons.
When are these assessments going to be available?
Students take the i-Ready assessments in class during the testing windows in fall, winter, and spring. The results are available to parents as soon as the test is submitted.
How are the assessments administered to the younger kids taking it for the first time? Is there a teacher/adult there with them, or is it more self-guided?
The i-Ready assessment is given in class under the supervision of the teacher. Teachers are trained to actively monitor students during the assessment to ensure that students remain on task and are taking their time to answer each question. The i-Ready test is adaptive, which means that students will see questions based on their previous answers, so the content of the assessment can be different for each student.
Are the kids in 1st grade taught how to utilize the manipulatives before taking the test for the first time?
Students watch a short tutorial at the beginning of the assessment to learn how to use the online manipulatives. Teachers are also available during the test to assist with questions that students may have.
If the student “tested out” of an area, will they still be assessed on the area on the next test(s)? Basically, if they drop below the “test out” level is that identified?
If a student’s placement is "max score" in the fall, this means the student was in the highest range for this particular area and could still see that topic on the test in the winter. The test will adapt as students answer the questions.
If a student’s placement is “surpassed level” in the fall, that means the student did not see items in this particular area because performance in other areas was above a specific threshold. The student may or may not answer questions in this area on the next test based on current performance.
If a student’s placement is “not assessed,” that means students at this chronological grade level do not see items in this area during the standard test flow.
How does this help children with IEPs? Specifically, children who make up the autistic demographic of the student population. There are many differences that may not translate well via testing. How can this help? Is it covered in IEP meetings?
Students that have IEPs are expected to make growth. This tool is very helpful with identifying strengths, pinpointing what domains students need goals in, and identifying what instructional areas students are ready for. This data, as well as other data, should serve as the basis of discussions.
Teachers prep students for i-Ready, not parents. The only indicator I, as the parent, have that my student is successful at these interventions is grades. If the grades are high, it would appear the intervention is working. But if the scores aren’t aligning, then there is a disconnect. Are they not on grade level, or just not good test takers? Considering they take multiple tests a year, are they burned out? What is the data on high performing students in class, whose i-Ready scores don’t align?
i-Ready is an adaptive test. Students are introduced to questions at grade level and as they answer questions correctly, they are introduced to more challenging standards. If students do not answer questions correctly, they are provided with less challenging questions. When students are able to consistently answer questions correctly, the program uses that data to determine performance. When students take the assessment in the winter and spring, the test begins at the level identified by the student’s previous assessment.
There are many indictors that could impact the score, rushing through the test, burning out from testing, poor test taking strategies, test anxiety, or lack of skills. If there is misalignment between i-Ready and grades, it is important to communicate with your child’s teachers regarding what they are observing in class.
My child was on principal honor roll in elementary school, but because of i-Ready scores wasn’t recommended for honors. If they get straight As in class, but don’t score well on the test, where are the gaps? Clearly excelling in the classroom, but not recommended for higher level classes based on a standardized test. I was able to advocate for her, but there is a disconnect?
Students are placed into classes using multiple data points, and i-Ready is only one of those pieces that teachers consider. If you have concerns about your child’s placement into courses for next year, please contact the school.
How does this test help children who know the information but do not test well?
It can be frustrating when a child knows the material but doesn’t perform as well on a test. Below, we will explain how i-Ready is designed to support students and how situations like this are taken into account.
- How i-Ready Supports Students, Even If They Struggle with Testing*
- Adaptive Nature: i-Ready is not a pass/fail test. It’s designed to adapt to each student's ability level by adjusting the difficulty of questions based on how the student responds. This helps pinpoint strengths and areas for growth, even if the child misses a few questions.
- Growth Over Time: Since students take the i-Ready diagnostic multiple times during the year, it focuses on progress and growth rather than a single score. Even if a student has an off day, future assessments give them a chance to show what they know.
- What Happens If a Student Knows the Material but Doesn’t Test Well?
- If the i-Ready diagnostic suggests a student is performing below what you or the teacher would expect, we don’t rely on this data alone. We also consider classroom performance, grades, teacher observations, and other assessments to get a full picture of the student’s abilities.
- Teachers review the i-Ready results carefully to make sure they align with what they see in class. If a student’s score seems off, teachers can make adjustments to the learning plan and avoid placing too much weight on the test alone.
- How i-Ready Results Are Used to Support Learning
- Rather than being just a test, i-Ready helps by creating personalized learning paths. These lessons focus on the student’s specific needs, filling any gaps while also challenging them in areas where they excel. Even students who perform well in class can benefit from targeted activities to solidify their knowledge.
- Teachers use the data to differentiate instruction, meaning your child won’t be held back by the test results but will receive support where needed to continue excelling.
- Next Steps if You’re Concerned
- If you feel that your child’s i-Ready scores don’t reflect their true abilities, work with their teacher to review additional data and make sure your child is being supported appropriately.
- You can also discuss with the teacher ways to help your child feel more comfortable and confident during these assessments. Simple strategies, like practice sessions or teaching test-taking skills, can make a big difference.
How does the i-Ready test continually say children are well below grade level, but we pay for tutoring via Huntington that says otherwise -- the student is on grade level and above. And the student’s performance in class with the teacher also agrees the student’s performance is not below grade level.
It can be confusing when different sources—like i-Ready, a private tutor, and classroom performance—provide varying results. Let me help clarify how these assessments work and why the results may differ.
- Different Types of Assessments Measure Different Things:
- i-Ready Diagnostic is designed to measure a student’s foundational skills and identify specific gaps that might not always be visible in daily classroom performance. It’s adaptive, meaning the test adjusts to find the student’s highest areas of need—so it may reflect challenges that haven't shown up yet in classwork or tests.
- Specific tutoring programs typically focus on specific grade-level standards and may also tailor their curriculum to meet a student’s strengths. They may report that your child is performing at or above grade level if they’ve mastered those particular topics.
- Classroom assessments often focus on current lessons and standards aligned with the student’s grade level, not necessarily assessing areas from prior grades.
- What Does 'Below Grade Level' Mean in i-Ready?
- When i-Ready indicates a student is performing below grade level, it means there might be foundational gaps—skills from earlier grades—that still need to be developed. This doesn’t necessarily mean your child isn’t capable of learning and excelling with grade-level work but that filling those earlier gaps could strengthen their long-term academic growth.
- Why Might Results Differ?
- Timeframes Matter: Tutoring programs may report progress in real time based on the skills they are focusing on, while i-Ready gives a broader picture, sometimes detecting gaps that are not directly addressed in tutoring or classroom lessons.
- Student Performance Differences: Some students may perform differently in test environments. They might feel more comfortable with their teacher or tutor than during a computer-based i-Ready assessment, which could impact their scores.
- Next Steps for Clarity and Support:
- Work together with your child’s teacher to compare classroom performance, tutoring reports, and i-Ready results. This way, you can get a clearer picture of your child’s strengths and areas for growth.
- These insights can also be used to customize support both at school and at home, ensuring your child stays engaged and challenged without getting frustrated by gaps that may be holding them back.
Ultimately, the goal is to align all the data and support your child in their learning journey.
Is i-Ready the test used to determine if a child gets in gifted classes?
i-Ready is one of multiple criteria used in identifying a student for gifted services.
Other Assessment Questions
Do students take MCAP three times a year?
Students take state assessments once per year in the spring. Students in grades 3-8 take MCAP assessments in reading and math. Students in grades 5 and 8 take the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA), and students in grade 8 take the MCAP Social Studies assessment. Students taking Algebra I, English 10, LSN Government, and Biology also take the associated assessments in high school.
Is the MCAP given at the end of the year?
The MISA for grades 5 and 8 is given in March. The MCAP assessments in ELA and Math are given in April and May, and the Grade 8 Social Studies MCAP is given in May. High school assessments are given in April and May.
How does taking multiple tests a year from grade 3 through 7 impact efficacy of the tests and student burnout?
We are limited in the number of assessments that we can require students to take as a school district. Maryland has limited our assessments to 2.2% of instructional hours except for 8th grade which is 2.3%. This limit includes all state-mandated assessments, and the aim is to reduce the amount of time students will spend on assessments and allow more time for instruction.
Technology Questions
What if your child does not have a school device?
Students without devices will be provided with a device while in school taking the assessment.
How do I obtain login credentials for i-Ready?
Parents don't have separate credentials for i-Ready. You'll login as your child to see the report. Since Office365 is web-based, parents can log in from any device. To log in to Office 365, go to www.office.com from any device and log in with the student’s ID number as the email address (######@ccboe.com) and the student password.
Can I log in from an iPad or Mac Book?
You can log into i-Ready from any device that has internet access.
When will students get a device, if any? At what point?
Please contact your student’s school to find out specific information about devices.
What would the student’s login information be for their office 365? Would it be their student ID and the password they created with their teacher?
Your child's login for Office 365 is their 6-digit ID number followed by “@ccboe.com” and the password available in StudentVUE and ParentVUE.
How do you access your student’s Clever account login and password? Is Clever something only the students access during the day, or can parents log in as well?
Students access Clever by first logging into Office 365. Parents can log in as their students to access Clever and view the For Families Report in i-Ready.
Is there any app to download?
Parents don’t need to download an app to view the report.
In addition, John Hanson Middle ceased providing students devices to bring home. However, other middle schools have continued to supply devices, which support the child's ability to work on any areas of concern more at home.
Please reach out to your specific school to discuss your concern with devices.
Personalized Instruction (MyPath) Questions
Can you provide access to the reading online instruction please? I have my son work on his math instruction daily. Please explain how the students can use mypath at home.
For some students, MyPath is embedded into instruction during the school day. Please contact your student’s teacher to inquire about what they can work on at home.
Can I request for my son’s MyPath be activated for reading with his teacher? Can my child access i-Ready now and complete the lessons?
Please contact your student’s teacher to inquire about what they can work on at home.
Instructional Program Questions
If a child receives additional resources outside of i-Ready, is there an option or assessment that a child can take bi-weekly or periodically?
Students will only take i-Ready up to three times per year. There must be 12 weeks between test administrations to show growth. Please speak to your student’s teacher to see if their progress will be monitored using a different assessment measure.
What about students that have gaps, they may have issues with early math lessons but are stronger in upper-level math problems.
i-Ready identifies specific gaps in foundational skills because those early concepts (like number sense or operations) are critical for long-term success in more advanced math. Even if a student excels with higher-level math, addressing these gaps ensures they don’t run into challenges down the road.
The goal is to fill those gaps while continuing to build on the student’s strengths in upper-level math. Teachers use i-Ready results along with classroom performance to differentiate instruction, so students get targeted support where needed without being held back from advanced concepts.
How much time does the teacher work with the child to improve daily?
It depends on the grade level and specific student needs. Teachers use iReady results to differentiate instruction in the classroom, but some students may receive additional support in the form of a reading and/or math intervention.
If my child's report shows a deficiency, how does a teacher that has classes full of students with varying deficiencies provide specific assistance to my child? The remedial labs are not effective because the instructor is moving from child to child and never has time available to help each student.
Teachers use i-Ready data to group students with similar needs and provide targeted support through small-group instruction and personalized learning paths. While teachers rotate among students, the platform ensures your child continues practicing independently.
If the current setup isn’t meeting your child’s needs, we encourage you to connect with the teacher to review progress and explore additional options like adjusted plans or extra support.
The book provided for phonics is unavailable for my daughter in 1st grade.
Please contact your student’s teacher for support.
So how does Canvas help students and parents?
Canvas is the platform to see your child's teacher pages for each subject area. This is separate from i-Ready.
What strategies do you have in place to continue to motivate students who are above their grade level?
If students are above grade level teachers have the ability to assign lessons above grade level. Goals will be set based on initial performance to encourage continued growth.
What are labs 1-4? Can you explain what they are for?
The middle school Literacy Lab courses are designed to strengthen students’ reading skills based on their individual needs, using research-based methods:
- Literacy Lab 1: Focuses on phonics and decoding skills.
- Literacy Lab 2: Builds on decoding and adds comprehension instruction.
- Literacy Lab 3: Emphasizes advanced decoding and deeper comprehension.
- Literacy Lab 4: Prepares students for higher-level reading and writing to support success in Honors and AP courses.
Each course works alongside Language Arts to help students grow in key literacy skills and succeed academically.
The middle school Math Lab courses provide extra support to help students strengthen essential math skills and access grade-level or accelerated standards:
- Math Lab 1: Focuses on developing foundational math skills.
- Math Lab 2: Emphasizes computational and problem-solving skills.
- Math Lab 3: Builds understanding of algebraic concepts to support success in accelerated math courses.
These labs work alongside regular math classes to ensure students have the skills needed for academic success.
For full course descriptions, please see the Middle School Program of Studies - Charles County Public Schools (ccboe.com).
Can you provide the FEV email and phone number in the chat?
Tutoring: ccboe@fevtutor.com
Free online tutoring is for any grade level?
Yes!
i-Ready Assessments
Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students complete i-Ready assessments three times during the school year. The program features adaptive assessments that build on student responses to provide teachers with data to best support their students. Students who will take i-Ready assessments during the 2024-25 school year include the following:
- Students in Grades 1-8 (math and reading).
- High school students with math Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) goals.
- High school students with reading IEP goals.
Students assessed with i-Ready will complete reading and math assessments during three windows: Fall 2024; Winter 2024-25 (window is Jan. 2 through Feb. 7); and Spring 2025 (window is April 28 through June 4).
Data from the initial assessments is helping teachers determine areas of mastery, but also provides data on areas for growth and improvement. Teachers are using data to identify strengths and weaknesses, and plan instruction to support growth and target areas of improvement. Teachers will use the i-Ready program to monitor student progress throughout the school year. The initial assessment is not designed to provide a grade or score for a student. The question structure adjusts to student responses. For example, if a student answers several questions correctly in a row, the program will adjust and provide students with more challenging questions. If a student answers several questions in a row incorrectly, the program will adjust and provide slightly easier questions.
Accessing the i-Ready Student Portal
English Instructions
- Log into your student account in Office 365.
- Click on the waffle icon and then click on Clever. (If Clever is not in the list, scroll down and click on “All Apps” and select Clever from the expanded list.)
- Click on the iReady icon. This will be in the section called “Misc Applications” unless you made it a favorite.
Spanish Instructions
- Vaya a su cuenta de Office 365.
- Haga clic en el icono del gofre y luego haga clic en Clever. Si Clever no está en la lista, desplácese hacia abajo y haga clic en "Todas las aplicaciones" y seleccione Clever de la lista ampliada.
- Haga clic en el ícono i-Ready. Esto estará en la sección llamada "Aplicaciones varias" a menos que lo hayas convertido en favorito.
Other Resources
Understanding i-Ready Diagnostic Data for Families
Elementary-level literacy and math resources for parents are posted on the CCPS website at:
Secondary-level instructional resources for both parents and students are posted on the CCPS website at: