This article includes frequently asked questions regarding the Fractional Reasoning Screeners. If you have questions not addressed here, email support@forefront.education.

Can this assessment be given whole-class?

The assessment can be given whole-class. If time restrictions prevent some students from finishing the assessment during the provided time, additional time can be provided for those students that need it in a small group or individual setting

How much time should I provide students with to complete the assessment?

This is not a timed test, however, overall guidance is to provide students with 45 minutes to complete the Early and Intermediate assessments, and 60 minutes to complete the Advancing assessment. Task-by-task guidance is provided for teachers to help them keep the assessment moving along. 

Teachers should follow the script for their assessment as written and have a clock or timer ready. The times are flexible and are provided as guidance in order to keep the assessment moving at a reasonable pace. It will also ensure that the assessment remains efficient. Students should not be aware of the timing of the tasks.

Where do I access the training for this assessment?

You may learn about the self-paced, online course on our website here. Note that you’ll have to create a unique login to access the online course. For the username, please use the name that you’d like to have appear on your certificate of completion, after finishing the course. Please use your school email address when you access the course. This allows our team to verify that you’ve accessed the course and provide status updates on your course progress.

I’ve completed the online course. Where do I access my certificate?

Once you have successfully completed the course with a passing score on the final assessment, you can navigate back to the main page for the course here. You’ll be able to access your certificate on this page.

Please clarify when the diagnostic/interview portion is needed. Is there a specific score that triggers it by grade level?

The decision to use the diagnostic interview should be made by the teacher or school.  There is no official cut score that automatically triggers that recommendation. The Fractional Reasoning Diagnostic assessments are provided to be tools to gather more in-depth information about student understanding and to help indicate starting points for instruction and intervention.

Should students be pulled out to take the diagnostic/interview? Should this be administered by the teacher, math coach, or interventionist?

We recommend that classroom teachers administer the diagnostic when possible, as it helps them build a deeper understanding of their students. However, we understand time constraints, so schools or districts can decide who is best positioned to conduct the interview.

Is there a section in the gradebook for recording diagnostic results?

Teachers can add the assessment to their class this way. Alternatively, this article provides a walkthrough for assigning it at the course level.

Would you recommend 4th and 5th grade teachers administer the first assessment at the beginning of the year or closer to the start of their fraction unit?

We recommend giving the first assessment a few weeks before starting the fraction unit. This timing allows teachers to use the results to tailor instruction. The second formative assessment is ideally administered near the end of the unit with time to address any lingering misconceptions.

Should teachers enter scores into Forefront, or should the math coach or interventionist do this?

We recommend that teachers enter scores themselves during a collaborative scoring session. This process not only supports calibration but also helps teachers engage deeply with student thinking.

How and when do we report scores to the state?

Forefront will handle the process of sharing the necessary data with the state.

How many lessons are provided for struggling students, and are they digital or printable?

Each assessment question is linked to 4+ targeted activities. All materials are printable and can be accessed through the Next Steps documents. This article will guide you through finding those resources.

For Alabama: 4th and 5th grades must report 2 scores to the state, correct? (4th – Early and Intermediate; 5th – Intermediate and Advancing)

Yes, that’s correct.

Need more support?

Submit a support request or email our team at support@forefront.education.