Student Learning ObjectivesAssessment Guidance for LEAs

Student Learning Objectives Training Series

Agenda

• Assessment Guidance– Assessment Guidance Options: Pros and Cons– Challenges for Non-Tested Grades and Subjects– Key Questions about Assessment Guidance for

LEAs

Objectives

By the end of this session, LEA-leveldecision makers will be able to: 1. Identify the pros and cons of each of the four

assessment guidance options. 2. Consider the challenges for non-tested

grades and subjects. 3. Consider answers to the key questions for

LEAs about assessment.

SLO Assessment Guidance

Potential Assessment Guidance Options:

Assessment is Defined by LEAEach SLO objective is directly linked to one or more requiredassessments. Assumes a high level of pre-work done by LEA.

Pros:

• Comparability• Equity• Less responsibility for

evaluators to approve assessment choice

Cons:

• Challenge to complete• Availability of all assessments

(and current breadth of use)• Pressure to select “perfect”

match with risk of mistakes• Lack of teacher buy in

Potential Assessment Guidance Options:

Defined Assessment OptionsTeachers have choice within a defined group of assessments bycontent/grade level. Appropriate choices are defined by LEA.

Pros:

• Still less responsibility for evaluators

• Avoids the need to find a “perfect match” per SLO

• Flexibility for teacher

Cons:

• Less comparability• Inequity between

grades/content areas (some will have many more choices)

Potential Assessment Guidance Options:

Assessment HierarchyTeachers choose from assessments that are prioritized by LEA.Different levels of assessments (in the hierarchy) requiredifferent levels of review and documentation from teachers.

Pros:

• Allows for the most flexibility

• Will allow strong practices to emerge from the field

• Easiest to design

Cons:

• Least comparability• Most training needed for

both teachers and evaluators

Potential Assessment Guidance Options:

Assessment CriteriaLEA defines criteria for assessments used by teachers orschools that are not recognized/validated assessment tools.Criteria is used to develop a checklist that becomes a part ofSLO approval.

Pros:

• Builds knowledge about good assessment practices

• Means that teacher developed assessments can be used

Cons:

• Complex work for evaluators• May not be applied with

fidelity and results may not be comparable

• Most training needed for both teachers and evaluators

Challenges for Non-Tested Grades and Subjects

Challenges for Non-Tested Subjects

The biggest challenge presents itself in defining suitable/appropriate assessments for non-tested subject areas such as physical education, world languages, art, music, theater, etc.

Some states are allowing for different assessment criteria, depending on the content area.

Alternative examples for non-tested content areas include performance rubrics, portfolios, more leeway for teacher developed projects, and/or collaboratively planned projects.

Different approaches can raise issues of equity for teachers, so this needs to be thought through carefully.

Key Questions about Assessment Guidance for LEAs

Key Questions about Assessment

1. Will your LEA recommend different assessment criteria for different grade/content areas?

2. Will your teachers be allowed to use assessments for other content areas?

3. Does the timing of when assessments are available or when results are available rule any assessment instruments out/in?

4. Do pre and post assessments have to be the same?5. Can teachers grade/score their own SLO evidence? If not,

who is responsible for grading/scoring?

Note: Documentation/evidence requirements can be different dependingon who is doing the scoring and depending on what kind of assessmentsare used.

Learn More About SLOs

Please visitOSSE’s SLO technical assistance pagefor more information about StudentLearning Objectives, to see SLO samplesand to find the SLO Toolkit with resourcesintended to aid in implementation.