The DreamBox Math adaptive placement experience and continuous adaptive learning engine allow students to work in lessons that build on prior knowledge and extend their learning, including lessons that may be aligned with standards one or more grade levels ahead. This article walks through how DreamBox Math determines where a student will begin in the program curriculum for the first time, or at the beginning of a new school year.
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Looking for more information about Assessment or Adaptivity? Click here to learn more about continuous assessment & adaptivity in DreamBox Math. |
Placement Factors Before Initial Sign-in
There are three factors that determine where a student will begin in DreamBox Math:
Enrolled Grade Level
A student’s enrolled (rostered) grade level determines where the student will begin their first tasks in DreamBox Math, but only if no other placement adjustments are made. The program will presume the student is proficient in the preceding grade-level standards and begin learning and adapting based on how the student responds to grade-level lesson content.
| Example: A 3rd-grade student would be placed in 3rd-grade content in the Math curriculum. They will be presumed proficient in K-2nd grade-level standards. |
Initial Placement Level
| The Initial Placement setting is different from a student's Initial Standing in DreamBox Math. |
A student’s initial placement level can be different than a student’s enrolled grade level, but educators can only adjust it before a student signs in for the first time. When set, a student’s initial placement level overrides their enrolled grade level and changes where they begin in DreamBox Math.
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Examples:
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Student Account Creation & Sign-in Timing
There are a few factors that affect where a student is placed in the grade-level curriculum when a new student account is created:
- When the account is created: Before or after February 1st.
- When the teacher adjusts the student's initial placement before they sign in: Before or after February 1st.
- When the student signs-in for the first time: Before or after February 1st.
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If a teacher determines a new student should be placed at a level different than their enrolled grade level before the student signs in to DreamBox Math for the very first time, the teacher can edit their initial placement level in the educator dashboard. The timing above will apply to the updated placement. Click here to open directions on how to adjust initial placement through the educator dashboard. |
What does this mean?
| Date of Student Account Creation or Initial Placement Update | When Student Signs-in for the First Time | Student Placement |
| Before February 1st | Before February 1st |
Beginning of the grade level (According to the district's chosen academic standards) |
| Before February 1st | After February 1st |
Midway through the grade level (According to the district's chosen academic standards) |
| After February 1st | After February 1st |
Midway through the grade level (According to the district's chosen academic standards) |
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Example: A newly rostered 4th‑grade student has never signed in to DreamBox Math and their teacher updated their initial placement in their educator dashboard to 2nd grade on January 28. The student's placement in the 2nd grade curriculum depends on when they first sign in to DreamBox Math.
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Determining a Student's Initial Standing in DreamBox Math
When a student signs into DreamBox Math for the first time or at the beginning of their school year, they need to complete one or more tasks to receive their initial standing. A student’s initial standing is where the student will begin in the program, either for the first time or in the new school year.
- Launchpad placement assessment (Advanced subscription only)
- One lesson completed with understanding
The table below shows the task/s a student needs to complete to determine their initial standing based on their district's DreamBox Math subscription type, if Launchpad is enabled or disabled, and if the student has been opted-out of any tasks.
| DreamBox Math Settings | Post-Sign In Tasks | Initial Standing Confirmation | No Initial Standing Yet |
| Launchpad Enabled* | Complete the Launchpad placement assessment and one lesson with demonstrated understanding. | Placement on the Progress Report. | Progress Report shows: "This student hasn't been placed yet" |
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Launchpad Enabled (Student opted out) |
NA** **If the student has been opted out of Launchpad, they will not have an initial standing on the Progress Report. The student must complete Launchpad. |
NA** **If the student has been opted out of Launchpad, they will not have an initial standing on the Progress Report. The student must complete Launchpad. |
Progress Report shows: "This student hasn't been placed yet" |
| Launchpad Not Enabled* |
Complete one lesson with demonstrated understanding.
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Placement on the Progress Report. | Progress Report shows: "This student hasn't been placed yet" |
*This year, Kindergarten students will not take Launchpad. Launchpad is intentionally designed for learners beginning at Grade 1 and above and currently does not support placing Kindergarteners into more advanced material than their current rostered grade level, which is the beginning of Kindergarten. Click here to learn more.
Overview of Initial Standing Tasks
While it is helpful to know what tasks students need to complete to determine their Initial Standing in DreamBox Math, read below to learn more about each task.
| Launchpad Completion |
Launchpad is an in-platform assessment that places students into the DreamBox Math curriculum and establishes their initial standing for the Progress Report. As students complete Launchpad tasks, DreamBox identifies their strengths and places them on their individual, adaptive learning path within each domain in DreamBox Math. (Launchpad is available to Advanced package customers only.) |
| Lesson Completion | Students need to sign in, play, and complete at least one DreamBox Math lesson with demonstrated understanding. |
Placement FAQs
| Q: What happens to student placement if the student doesn’t play DreamBox Math for a long time? |
A: If a student signs in for less than five minutes per week over 20 consecutive weeks, they will be placed at their current enrolled grade in school.
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