ILEARN Checkpoints
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, students in grades 3 through 8 will participate in three new ILEARN Checkpoints throughout the year. These are designed to provide timely insights into their progress in English/Language Arts (ELA) and Math. Science and Social Studies will continue with their end-of-year assessments.
What are ILEARN Checkpoints and why are they important?
ILEARN Checkpoints are brief online assessments administered three times each school year—in the fall, winter, and spring—to help measure student progress before the annual spring ILEARN assessment.
Monitor Student Progress
Checkpoint results provide teachers and families with timely information about how students are progressing toward Indiana Academic Standards. This allows us to celebrate growth, identify areas where additional support may be needed, and adjust instruction throughout the school year.
Focus on Essential Learning Standards
The Indiana Department of Education determines the specific Indiana Academic Standards assessed on each Checkpoint. Each assessment typically measures 4–9 priority standards. Because the Checkpoints follow a statewide schedule, they may not always align perfectly with the School Town of Munster's instructional pacing. Students may encounter a standard before it has been fully taught or after it has already been covered. By the end of the school year, all required Indiana Academic Standards are taught and assessed on the spring ILEARN assessment.
A Tool to Support Learning
ILEARN Checkpoints are designed to inform instruction—they are not part of a student's official ILEARN score or proficiency rating. Instead, they provide valuable feedback that helps teachers make instructional decisions and ensures students receive the support or enrichment they need throughout the year.
What can students expect during ILEARN Checkpoints?
ILEARN Checkpoints are administered online using a computer-adaptive format. This means the assessment adjusts the difficulty of questions based on a student's responses, providing a more accurate picture of their understanding of the standards being assessed.
Brief and Focused Assessments
Each Checkpoint includes approximately 20–25 questions and is designed to provide timely feedback. Unlike the spring ILEARN assessment, Checkpoints do not include extended writing responses or performance tasks.
Built-In Accessibility Features
Students have access to many of the same accessibility tools and approved accommodations available on the spring ILEARN assessment, including features such as text-to-speech when applicable. Please note that ILEARN Checkpoints are only available in an online format and are not offered as paper-and-pencil assessments.
Flexible Testing Experience
ILEARN Checkpoints are untimed, allowing students to work at a comfortable pace. If needed, testing can be completed over multiple days, providing flexibility while ensuring students have the opportunity to do their best.
What skills and concepts are assessed?
Each ILEARN Checkpoint measures a select group of Indiana Academic Standards in English/language arts and mathematics. Most standards are assessed on only one Checkpoint during the school year, providing a snapshot of student progress on those specific learning goals.
While each Checkpoint focuses on a limited number of standards, all Indiana Academic Standards are important and are taught throughout the school year. Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency on the full range of grade-level standards during the spring ILEARN assessment.
For more detailed information about the skills and concepts assessed at each grade level, please select the appropriate grade-level resource below: