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Don’t rely on your state assessment system. In most cases, your state assessments measure basic knowledge, not proficiency. Take a look at how your state assessments over report proficiency when a representative sample of students take the National Assessment for Educational Progress. |
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This has been documented on numerous occasions by Education Next |
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Select and implement the introduction of reliable standardized tests. Students, parents and teachers have the right to know how achievement is measured using a national assessment that measure proficiency and is from a norm that ensures competitive skills are being developed. In the K-8 years, think about using a standardized test in the fall opposite the spring state assessment schedule. |
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Get familiar with Value-Added processes that measure academic growth. |
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Several of the states are using “growth models” that are based on measuring each student’s academic growth from year to year, using each as his/her own control. Dr. William Sanders, EVAS system is one that measures the effect size of teachers on bringing about academic growth in their students. |
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Utilize common formative assessments that “catch” students who are experiencing learning problems in time to help them or identify advanced students that need to be accelerated. Just like a nurse or physician, measuring the health of our students learning is critical and must be conducted on a daily basis to ensure effective learning. |
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Stay in touch with the standards and assessments of countries that get top results.
Take a look at the Ministry of Singapore, a country that consistently tops the list of high scores on international assessments. Our assessments must be at minimum, competitive with what children must achieve elsewhere in the world. |
