In addition, our student assessments must match our overall vision. The Master Plan Committee is in a position to be a leading force in providing the state direction on this issue. It is vital that our assessments be valid and unbiased. We must be sure that our assessments not only align to the standards, but that an instructional rationale exists for the selection of each type of assessment, be that standardized, performance-based, open ended, etc. It is also crucial that state assessments be regarded as only one aspect of our accountability system.
Tests alone can never adequately measure a quality education.
For instance, critical thinking and problem solving skills are essential for every student to succeed. Our current state standards reinforce the importance of these skills. However, assessing student progress toward meeting these standards is complicated - much more complicated than providing a basic skills, multiple choice test. Our accountability system must rely on multiple measures for assessing achievement, such as student work, grades and graduation rates. The test itself is a step in the right direction because it is vital that we allow all students to demonstrate their growth and achievements.