Achieve Launches Student Assessment Inventory for School Districts National Network

Wednesday, November 16, 2016Printer-friendly version

Washington, D.C. — November 16, 2016 — Achieve today announced the launch of the Student Assessment Inventory for School Districts National Network. The goal of the National Network will be to support up to 12 school districts across the country to use the Student Assessment Inventory for School Districts to take stock of their assessment system, streamline the number of assessments, and ensure all remaining assessments are of high quality and aligned to state learning standards.

Across the country, educators, parents and students are saying that there is too much testing in our schools and that testing is taking valuable time away from teaching and learning. These concerns are legitimate and merit attention. School district officials have the opportunity to respond to concerns about over-testing by leading a conversation among educators and the broader community that directly addresses the amount of testing – and points the way toward a more coherent, educationally-sound approach to assessment.

The Student Assessment Inventory for School Districts, which Achieve launched in response to these concerns in 2014, supports a process by which districts evaluate the assessments students are taking, determine the minimum testing necessary to serve essential diagnostic, instructional and accountability purposes, and work to ensure that every district-mandated test is of high quality, is providing the information needed for specific school and district purposes, and is supported by structures and routines so that assessment results are actually used and action steps taken that will help students.

Through this new National Network, Achieve will provide districts subgrants between $5,000 and $7,000 to districts to complete the assessment inventory. In addition, district and school board leaders from those districts will attend a cross-district convening to learn from other districts that have used the assessment inventory and to finalize inventory planning, as well as receive ongoing support from Achieve staff.

Districts interested in applying to join the National Network should read the Call to Action for details about the application process. Applications are due December 16, 2016.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Chad Colby (202) 419-1570, ccolby@achieve.org

Kelly Van Beveren (202) 745-2306, kvanbeveren@achieve.org