Technology
Running the Assessments on Any Device
What the student assessments need — and why they work on the devices your school already has.
Why this matters
Works across the devices your school uses
Most schools run a mix of devices: Chromebook carts in one division, iPads in the lower school, laptops in another. True Progress assessments run in a web browser on all of them — Windows and Mac computers, Chromebooks, iPads, and Android tablets.
Because the assessment runs in a browser, that mix is not a problem. It behaves the same way on every device. There is nothing to install on each machine, nothing to configure device by device, and no separate testing application to keep updated. If a device fails on testing day, a student can move to any nearby one and continue. And because each student's device uses very little bandwidth, even a full class testing at the same time places little demand on a school's network.
For a school with a small technology staff — or none — this is the difference between assessment that fits into a normal school day and assessment that requires its own logistics. The test meets the school where it is.
What each device needs
Simple requirements, familiar equipment
The requirements are deliberately simple. In every case, a student needs:
- —A supported device — a Windows or Mac PC or laptop, a Chromebook, an iPad, or an Android tablet.
- —A current web browser — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. There is no app to download; the assessment opens in the browser.
- —A screen of at least 1024 × 768 pixels — a modest size that current Chromebooks, tablets, and laptops all comfortably exceed.
- —An internet connection. Very little bandwidth is used — about 20 kilobits per second per student — so even an entire class testing at once won't strain a typical school connection.
- —Headphones or earbuds — many assessments read the directions and questions aloud, and students need to hear that clearly, without competing with classroom noise.
One practical note: for the youngest students working on a laptop, a plug-in mouse is worth having on hand. The built-in trackpad can be difficult for small children, and a mouse makes the experience smoother.
About keeping devices current
Stay current, avoid surprises
True Progress officially supports any device, operating system, and browser released within the past twelve months, and tests each new release against them. Older equipment will often still run the assessment perfectly well — but because it falls outside that testing, full functionality cannot be guaranteed.
The simplest way to avoid any surprise on testing day is to keep devices and browsers reasonably up to date, which most schools already do through routine updates.
Your students' data is protected
Built to meet school privacy standards
The assessments are built to meet the standards schools expect. All information sent between a student's device and True Progress is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest, and the platform complies with FERPA and COPPA, the federal laws governing student privacy.
The assessments also work with single sign-on systems such as ClassLink and Clever, so students can reach them with a login they already use.
Confirming your setup
Verify before testing day
Current device, browser, and network requirements, including the web addresses that may need to be allowed through your school’s network filter, are maintained in the True Progress Support Center.