From Low-Performance to State-Leaders: How Formative Assessment Rewrote Our Story

Purpose & objective

The objective of this presentation is to explain how the district moves from level 1s and achievement and growth to level 5s which is the highest for the state. This made us the fastest-improving district in the state of Tennessee. The presentation will explain how the use of Mastery Connect, Mastery View Predictive Assessments, Mastery Item Banks, and Canvas were placed together through formative and summative assessments that led to the growth. You will explain how these assessments led to assessments for teaching not just assessments for final grades.

Outline

Introduction (5 minutes)
Welcome and Introductions (2 minutes)
- Brief overview of the presentation
- Introduction of the presenter/speaker
- Context: Explanation of the Level 1 to Level 5 on state accountability measures

Setting the Scene (3 minutes)
- Brief description of the district’s initial status and challenges
- Overview of state accountability measures and what Level 1 to 5 signify

Part I: Embracing Formative Assessment and Data Analysis (15 minutes)
Journey to Transformation (5 minutes)
- High-level overview of the transformation journey
- Sharing key milestones, with a focus on the adoption of formative assessments and data analysis

Strategies for Change(10 minutes)
- Detailed breakdown of strategies implemented
- Real-life examples and anecdotes from the district’s experience
- Interactive Q&A to engage the audience

Part II: Mastery Connect and Other Tools (15 minutes)
Overview of Tools Used (5 minutes)
- Introduction to Mastery Connect, Mastery View Predictive Assessments, Mastery Item Banks, and Canvas
- Explanation of how these tools helped in administering formative and summative assessments

Correlation to State Test (10 minutes)
- In-depth explanation of how these tools correlated to the state test
- Presentation of data illustrating the correlation
- Discussion on the improvements seen in state test results due to these tools

Part III: Teaching Assessments vs. Final Grade Assessments (10 minutes)
Shifting the Focus (5 minutes)
- Explanation of the transition from assessments for final grades to assessments for teaching
- Discussion on the benefits of this transition in terms of teaching quality and student learning

Impact on Teaching and Learning (5 minutes)
- Presentation of specific examples demonstrating the positive impact on teaching and learning
- Sharing feedback from teachers and students on the new assessment approach

Conclusion and Q&A (10 minutes)
Summarizing Key Takeaways (3 minutes)
- Recapitulation of key points discussed during the presentation
- Emphasis on the growth and improvements achieved by the district

Q&A Session (7 minutes)
- Open the floor to questions from the audience
- Provide concise and informative answers

Supporting research

Predictive Power of School Based Assessment Scores on Students' Achievement in Junior Secondary Certificate Examination (JSCE) in English and Mathematics
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1082451

The State of Assessment in K-12 Education: Study & Trends
https://www.instructure.com/resources/research-reports/state-assessment-k-12-education-study-trends

Mastery Connect: ESSA Level IV Logic Model
https://www.instructure.com/resources/research-reports/mastery-connect-essa-level-iv-logic-model