Center for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability

Grade Level: High School (9-12)

Understanding Student Learning: The Need for Education Data

This informational resource provides an overview of the types of data that schools often collect as well as the purposes behind data use. The main topics are:

What types of data do schools collect? 
How do schools use student education data to help individual students? 
Who needs education data?

Additionally, the article briefly addresses data security. 

Models and Modeling: An Introduction

This paper describes how modeling works in concert with all the other science practices in the classroom to promote students’ reasoning and understanding of core science ideas. Modeling usually works in tandem with another practice explanation. These two practices are at the heart of disciplinary work.

Proficiency in Science: Assessment Challenges and Opportunities

As part of a Science magazine special issue on grand challenges in science education, the author provides an overview of the promise for the future of science learning with the release of the NGSS, and of the challenges associated with achieving the full vision of the NGSS. The paper focuses on the implications of assessment on instruction, noting that what states and schools choose to assess often dictates what will be included in instruction. Overviews of the National Research Council’s Framework for K-12 Science Education, the NGSS, and different approaches to measuring proficiency in science are included. Challenges in designing assessments to measure proficiency in science, and examples of existing projects attempting to assess science through the integration of conceptual knowledge with aspects of science practices, are explored.

Standards for the 21st-Century Learner

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) developed Standards for the 21st-Century Learner to guide school library curricula and programs. The document presents nine common beliefs about learning, information, and access (e.g., “The continuing expansion of information demands that all individuals acquire the thinking skills that will enable them to learn on their own.” [p. 3]). The standards are organized into four strands related to how school librarians need to teach students how to use skills, tools, and resources.

Strategies for Communicating Results: Using the Change to Common Core Linked Assessments

From the Producer: “In this online webinar, REL Mid-Atlantic, Division H of the American Educational Research Association, and REL Northwest teamed up for a presentation and discussion of strategies that states and districts can use to communicate with the public about the new assessments linked to the Common Core.” The main speaker, Joshua Thomases, Dean at the Bank Street College of Education, shared New York City lessons from new Common Core-based assessments in 2012/13.”

ALDN Constructive Conversation Skills Poster

This resource is a graphic organizer showing four important conversation skills (create, clarify, support, and evaluate and compare) and sentence starters to help students engage in purposeful and extended interactions.