What is DesCartes? DesCartes ("day-cart") is a continuum that orders specific reading, language usage, mathematics, and science skills and concepts by achievement level. These skills and concepts align to the goal structure and content of your state standards. DesCartes is a constantly evolving resource that is adjusted to reflect the changes in your state standards. For districts using a state-aligned science test, the skills and concepts align to the goal structures and content of state standards. For districts using nationally-aligned science tests, the skills and concepts align to national standards. For easy reference, the skills and concepts are grouped along the continuum according to the NWEA measurement scale.

What is provided when DesCartes is licensed?

You will receive the DesCartes version that aligns with your test in three formats:

• A three-ring notebook with print masters
• A CD with electronic files in PDF format
• Online access to an electronic version through password-protected Reports Site

What does a DesCartes license permit?

The license to DesCartes allows your district to effectively and efficiently use DesCartes in the format that best fits your needs while protecting the integrity of the data. Essentially, you can reproduce and make DesCartes available to employees of your district, either in print or electronically. However, the license prohibits making DesCartes available, online or in print, to people other than employees. The agreement also prohibits putting DesCartes into a database or otherwise reformatting and adjusting the information without permission from NWEA.

Does DesCartes: A Continuum of Learning provide an individualized learning plan?

No, while DesCartes is aligned to the goal structures and content of state standards, it is derived from a generalization of the skills required to answer items represented within particular RIT ranges. Students only encounter about seven items per goal area on the Goals Survey test. The breadth of learning statements within DesCartes often exceeds the number of skills actually assessed by a single test event.