Assessment

What It Is

To find out if a student is learning, teachers have to assess their progress. This is generally accomplished through testing. Assessment results can be guideposts that help both teachers and students identify what has been learned and what areas need further work. As much a reflection of the instruction’s success as of the student’s progress, assessment can help teachers redirect their efforts to match students’ strengths or weaknesses. Assessment can also help students think about their own learning.

Why It Matters

In today’s educational climate of increased accountability, assessment is more important than ever before. Teachers depend on assessment tools for determining the abilities of students in their classrooms, and administrators depend on assessment tools for making decisions about education from the school level to the regional level. Ultimately, states depend on assessment for obtaining continued federal funding for their schools and districts.

What We Do

SEDL works with state departments of education staff and educators to evaluate and implement their assessment strategies. We also provide professional development and resources on student assessment.