Formative (Interim) Assessment Grant

Schools and students see increased academic success when they elicit and analyze evidence of student learning to guide classroom instruction. Indiana’s Formative (Interim) Assessment Grant provides funding to schools for formative, interim, benchmark, and similar assessment programs and professional development to increase data-driven instructional practices and enrich learning for all students. Indiana Code (IC) 20-32-5.1-17 gives authority to the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE), supported by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), to approve formative, interim, benchmark, or similar assessments for use in Indiana schools.

All Indiana public school corporations, charter schools, and accredited non-public schools (including Choice schools) are eligible to apply for this non-competitive grant during the application window. Assessment programs primarily support students in kindergarten through grade two for required universal screening in both math and reading. For grades three through eight, assessments support 10% of student enrollment per grade level. In grades nine and ten, assessment programs focus on alignment to Indiana’s college entrance exam

Required Universal Mathematics Screening for Kindergarten through Grade Two

Building foundational mathematics skills early supports student success in future academic and career pathways. To strengthen this foundation, Indiana Code (IC) 20‐32‐6.5‐3 requires schools to provide targeted interventions for any student identified by universal mathematics screener data as being at risk of not meeting grade‐level proficiency. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, all Indiana public, charter, and non‐public schools must adopt and implement one of the two State Board of Education (SBOE)-approved universal mathematics screeners, i-Ready Inform (Curriculum Associates) or Universal Screener for Number Sense (USNS) (Forefront Education) for kindergarten through grade two (as defined in IC 20‐32‐6.5‐2). Schools may utilize Formative Assessment Grant funds to cover the assessment, training, and professional development associated with their chosen screener vendor.

Universal Reading Screeners for Kindergarten through Grade Two (Formative Assessment Grant Eligible)

Indiana Code (IC) 20-35.5 requires Indiana schools to conduct universal reading screening to students in kindergarten through grade two. In response to the universal reading screener, students identified as “at risk” (or “at some risk”) must participate in additional diagnostic measures. Universal reading screeners for use with Formative Assessment Grant funds must be approved by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) per IC 20-32-5.1-17. IDOE partners with a committee of Indiana educators to review universal reading screeners to ensure that they meet legislative requirements prior to approval. Schools can access the Universal Screener and Dyslexia Programming webpage for more information on the preferred universal screener, Acadience K-6 Reading. Contact the Literacy Center for questions on Acadience K-6 Reading.