Leveraging Assessment for Achievement

IN THIS ISSUE

• Optimizing Assessment Through Training: The ability to make informed, data-driven instructional decisions is predicated on knowing how to build and administer effective formative assessments, draw useful data, interpret results, and effectively use data to modify instruction. Extensive training and ongoing professional development could be as important as your data investment.
• Beyond Visible Thinking: Elliott Witney, school leader at KIPP Academy Middle School, says assessment in charter schools carries enormous subtext. An evolving world in the information age has changed how educators need to think in order to work and lead. As a result, he says, schools are obligated to teach — and assess — a broader educational landscape.
• Making Sense of Assessment: Wendy Nelson, director of data and assessment services for the New York Charter Schools Association, reveals the top five data and assessment questions faced by charter school leaders.
• Authorizer Best Practices: The key to building a strong assessment and accountability system is a balanced, three-pillar approach that includes a clear charter contract, a strong body of evidence, and training for school leadership.
• Teacher Evaluations: Assessing teacher performance can be a difficult and controversial topic, particularly when using student-achievement data and offering merit pay. This month's Roll Call provides insights from two charter schools on their teacher-evaluation criteria.
• The Empowerment of Digital Learning: Educator Jill Newell believes the capabilities of digital learning is a call to educators to examine their training, desert ineffective pedagogy, and implement practices and tools that speak to the interests and motivations of students.