Student Assessments Overview
Teachers, administrators, government officials, and parents frequently ask the question “Are our students learning?” To answer the question, we need measurement and reporting about how our students are progressing through learning the content and skills that are expected of them. Those metrics come from a variety of assessments. Each assessment has a particular scope and purpose to inform different stakeholder groups of the progress students are making towards learning goals.
| State Assessments | District and Interim Benchmarks | Classroom Summative Assessments | Classroom Formative Assessments | Individual Formative Assessments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examples: |
CAASPP, CELDT, CAHSEE, Physical Fitness Test |
Galileo Benchmarks, Early Literacy Assessments, SBAC interim assessments |
End of Unit tests, |
Exit tickets, Whiteboards, |
Individual interaction with students |
| Content Scope |
An entire year’s content |
Large blocks of multiple standards |
A unit of study, cluster of standards |
Individual skills or standards |
A particular skill or piece of understanding |
| Application to instruction |
Long term, structural, |
Programmatic, in week long cycles |
Class progress, report cards |
Near term support of student learning |
Immediate support of student learning |
| Target audience |
National and state officials, School districts |
School administrators, teachers |
Teachers, Parents |
Teachers, Students |
Teachers, Students |
| Frequency |
Once a year |
3-5 times a year |
6-10 times a year (per subject) |
Daily to Weekly |
Daily, nearly constant |
