Balanced and FormativeBalanced and FormativeAssessment SystemsAssessment Systems

Pat Roschewski, Director of Statewide AssessmentNebraska Department of Educationpat.roschewski@nebraska.gov402 471-2495

Classroom-based assessments

State Tests

National Tests

Each tool has a different purpose and provides different data.

Nebraska: Nebraska: A Balanced Assessment A Balanced Assessment SystemSystem

Statewide Writing AssessmentStatewide Writing AssessmentAlternate Assessment - SPEDAlternate Assessment - SPEDLanguage AcquisitionLanguage AcquisitionNAEP – NRT results - ACTNAEP – NRT results - ACT

Locally developedLocally developedAssessments inAssessments inReadingReadingMathematicsMathematicsScienceScienceSocial StudiesSocial Studies

Nebraska’s System 2000-2008 +

• Locally based – assessments developed by teachers, reviewed by state

• Assessment literacy

• CIA – Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment

• PLC throughout state

•

THREE NEBRASKADISTRICTS

PapillionLaVista

So. Sioux City

District 1District 1Northeast Corner – High SchoolNortheast Corner – High School

Overall Student Population 3,641Challenges: SES - 42%Mobility: 17%SPED – 15%ELL – 27%

Voluntary in H.S. – PLC1 meeting per weekMembership tripled between 2006-

20082/3 facultyDiscuss materials beginning to

examine student workPre/post survey (results available)

District 1District 1Qualitative ResultsQualitative Results

Teacher Behaviors (self reported)•More reflective•Knowledge of instructional strategies increased•Experimentation increased•Professional collaboration increased•Better feedback to students

District 1District 1Qualitative ResultsQualitative Results

Student Behavior (teacher reported)•More student self-assessment•Increased focus on learning targets•Began asking for rubrics/exemplars•Questioned if learning targets weren’t posted•Questioned why all teachers weren’t using same techniques

District 2District 2Central – High SchoolCentral – High School

Overall Student Population 8,367Challenges: SES - 56%Mobility: 15%SPED – 14%ELL – 26% All H.S. teachers

Required – one per monthUsed Stiggins bookOne topic per monthWeekly bulletins-referenced topic

District 2District 2Central – High SchoolCentral – High School

Feedback from Teachers:Not everything has to be gradedI hadn’t thought about thatStudents can help us planLet’s do this with kids

District 3District 3Eastern – Total District K-12Eastern – Total District K-12

Overall Student Population 8,854Challenges: SES - 17%Mobility: 13%SPED – 2%ELL – 12% All teachers – 5 yrs.-- 100 %

One day each month examine student work, discuss instruction

Changing grading patternsAdministrative monitoringAdjusted calendar

Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedDistricts must allow timeDistricts must allow time

Teachers will engageTeachers will engage

Collaborative conversations should involve Collaborative conversations should involve structured conversations about CIAstructured conversations about CIA

Students do “catch on” and engageStudents do “catch on” and engage

Learning improvesLearning improves