A really interesting report released this summer from Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) who partnered with Gallup on a stakeholder study on assessments. NWEA had planned their survey well before ESEA was reauthorized.
This study engaged five key stakeholder groups: Teachers, Parents, Principals, Superintendents, and Students.
Theory of Change: Information about all students and individual students inform policymakers, teachers, parents to know and make decisions about change (policymakers), practice (teachers), schools and districts (parents).
"Perception is reality": Stakeholders were asked about the changing role of assessment. Some key findings, especially from parents:
- Everyone is concerned about lack of understanding of purpose of assessments, especially state policymakers.
- 32% of fathers felt that state assessments improve their child's learning
- 21% of mothers felt that state assessments don't improve their child's learning
- Parents felt there was a lack of communication from teachers about their child's performance on the state assessment
- Teachers do not feel comfortable about interpreting and communicating state testing results to parents
- 61% of parents said child's teacher rarely or never communicated with them about state assessment results
- Education stakeholders value assessments broadly, but views vary by assessment type and purpose.
- Parents need more information about assessments.
- Administrators are still getting to know ESSA, but superintendents are optimistic about its impact.
- Gaps in understanding of the purpose of assessments remain:
- Most teachers, principals, and superintendents do not believe that state and federal policymakers understand the purpose of different types of assessments, highlighting the need for dialogue around ESSA implementation
- Teachers are largely doubtful that parents understand formative or interim assessments--the diagnostic tools and practices teachers frequently use to gauge student understanding and adapt the instruction process
- Parents are skeptical that state tests improve the quality of teaching
- Teachers need additional training to maximize the power of assessment data to inform instructional practices
Recommendations:
- Get ESSA implementation "right" - foster dialogue with stakeholders
- Involve students in assessment planning processes - what students gain in understanding them is applied to their personal academic/educational goals
- Support ongoing assessment education for teachers - with particular focus on teacher preparation
- Change the national dialogue - provide assessment literacy resources for all stakeholders
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Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and Gallup Study: Make Assessments Work for All Students: Multiple Measures Matter
Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and Gallup Study: Make Assessments Work for All Students: Multiple Measures Matter