GAINS Education Group · Palatine, Illinois · Since 2005
Rather than treating standardized metrics as an isolated compliance burden, GAINS transforms interim data into an actionable skills continuum, supporting teacher collaboration within Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) while preserving deep, authentic student learning.
The skills continuum
Assessments & services
GAINS has vast knowledge of national standards-based assessments and supports educators in building evaluations aligned with district and state standards.
Scoring and reporting of retired ACT tests for grades 9–12, with analysis reports generated from your student data files.
$11 per student
Classroom formative assessments tied to ACT questioning strategies, for high school, middle school, and elementary.
$350 per quiz · district discounts available
Consultant services for teachers and administrators, delivered by webinar and focused on interpreting data.
Use cases by grade
When used across students’ learning journey, school districts can improve alignment, clarity, and student performance. Grounded in backward-design frameworks and the proprietary S.C.A.I.L. Model©, the GAINS assessment engine allows school districts to seamlessly integrate target CCRS goals into existing curricula.
How it works
Target CCRS goals are integrated into the curriculum your teachers already use.
ACT-style interims and diagnostic quizzes, one to three times between official ACT administrations.
Reports for the school, each teacher, and each student, with every response in Excel.
Professional Learning Teams read the skills continuum and adjust instruction where the data points.
Student progress tracked from the Pre-ACT 8/9 through each GAINS assessment.
Who we work with
Superintendents, assistant superintendents, curriculum and assessment directors
Evaluate CCRS alignment across teams and schools, and get a starting point for unit and district standards-based growth modeling.
Schedule a conversationPrincipals, assistant principals, department chairs
Evaluate student needs at the start of the school year, then track progress on the standards identified as needing improvement on the Pre-ACT.
Join a data webinarEnglish, reading, mathematics, and science
Use the GAINS template to build common assessments in ACT-style, skills-based formats from your own classroom content and materials.
Get a sample quizSchools we serve
“I have been working with GAINS Education Group for 10 years. They have provided rigorous assessments that are directly aligned to the EPAS. The professional development sessions and curriculum materials they have created are teacher friendly and support rigorous question development. Lastly, the data reports are thorough and are returned to the school quickly and efficiently. The GAINS consultants are always there to help answer any questions and also appreciate direct feedback to ensure they are providing the best service. They lead with customer service and response. I would recommend their services to any school that is data driven and uses data to drive instruction and increase student achievement.”
“We've worked with the team at GAINS for the last seven years at St. Augustine Prep. GAINS has been able to provide us with incredible service when it comes to data and assessment. They've been extremely helpful in crafting our assessment strategy and their reports come very quickly and are essential to helping our teachers assess their practice. As a result of our work with GAINS, we've seen tremendous ACT growth at all levels and this has helped unlock the door to college and scholarships for many of our students.”
Public, private, and charter schools, including
IllinoisArgo High School, Argo High School – Heritage Middle School, Argo High School – Wilkins Middle School, Argo High School – Willow Springs Middle School, Bartlett High School, Beecher High School, Bogan Computer Technical High School, Bowen High School, Catalyst – Howland, Catalyst – Maria, Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School, Central Schools Programs, Christ the King Jesuit Prep High School, CICS Northtown Academy, CICS Ralph Ellison, Clemente High School, Delavan High School, Donovan Jr./Sr. High School, East Alton-Wood River High School, Effingham High School, Elgin High School, Farragut Career Academy, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School, Gifford Street High School, Hiawatha High School, Hiawatha PreK – 8th Grade School, Kelvyn Park High School, Lake View High School, Larkin High School, Maria High School, Michele Clark High School, Moline High School, Moline High School – John Deere Middle School, Moline High School – Wilson Middle School, North-Grand High School, Ogden International High School, Ramsey-Fayette High School, South Elgin High School, St Anne Community High School, Sterling High School, Streamwood High School, Township High School, Triad High School, Waukegan High School
MichiganCentral Pinnacle School, City High, Creston High, Eastern High School, GR Montessori High School, McBain High School, Ottawa Hills High, School of Health Science, South East Career Academy, Union Community, University Prep Academy, Webberville High School
WisconsinLodi High School, Oconto Falls High School, Urban League of Greater Madison
About GAINS
GAINS was founded in 2005 by Dr. Tim Schaap and Dr. Marilynn Kulieke, both standards-based assessment specialists. The organization has dedicated itself to empowering schools, teachers, and students to understand standards and implement classroom assessments to increase student achievement.
Doctorate in Secondary Education from Northern Illinois University. Coordinated district ACT test preparation programs; has worked with NASSP, Township High School District 214, and Scantron.
Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago. Former superintendent of Glenbrook District 225 and West Chicago District 33. Served as principal at Rolling Meadows High School. Former managing partner of Empowered Schools K12.
Specializes in surveys and school data for improvement planning. Previously NSSE Associate Vice President for Research Services.
Solution Architect for Card Integrity. Former ELA test writer for Hackers Education Group in Seoul, Korea. Former Director of Assessment Services for GAINS.
Contact
Tell us a little about your school or district and we'll send a sample report and a sample quiz.