The CBE Vision for Assessment and Reporting: Guiding Principles Moving Forward Updated | August 2015 0 Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................1 Guiding Principles | Assessment .................................................4 Guiding Principles | Assessment For and Of Learning ................8 Guiding Principles | Communicating Student Learning ..............13 Formal | K-12 .......................................................................................... 14 Informal | K-12 ........................................................................................ 14 Guiding Principles | Determining Achievement ..........................18 Superintendent | Jeannie Everett, Superintendent of Learning 0 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Introduction Student success is the primary focus of The Calgary Board of Education’s (CBE) Three-Year Education Plan which states “Each student, in keeping with his or her individual abilities and gifts, will complete high school with a foundation of learning necessary to thrive in life, work and continued learning.” A key strategy in realizing this goal is personalized learning, through an emphasis on responsive practices for assessment and instructional design. In alignment with the vision for public education described in the Ministerial Order on Student Learning, CBE students will continue to develop strong foundations in literacy and numeracy as well as important competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving, global understanding and creativity. The Calgary Board of Education Vision for Assessment and Reporting has been developed and adjusted over time based on feedback from teachers, students and families, current educational research and through the filter of the CBE core beliefs and values. The steps taken over the last few years are a result of deliberate thinking and decision-making in support of student learning. Purpose of Assessment: is for teachers, students and families to have an accurate understanding of what a student knows and can do in relation to Alberta Programs of Study and/or appropriate Individual Program Plans in order to determine appropriate next steps in learning Purpose of Ongoing Communication: is to support and improve student learning, and ensure teachers, students and families have a shared understanding of what the learner knows and can do. Purpose of Determining Achievement: is to evaluate individual student achievement in relation to the expectations of the Alberta Programs of Study. In K9, achievement is reported through the use of the 1-4 achievement indicators. Grades 10-12 achievement is reported through the use of a percentage grade. Purpose of Reporting: is to communicate individual student achievement in relation to the expectations of the Alberta Programs of Study at a specific point in time. August 2015 Page 1 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Assessment in the Calgary Board of Education Learning and assessment are understood to be part of the same process where teachers plan for and engage in a continuous cycle of instruction, rich assessment, and adjustment. Personalized learning is built upon a comprehensive understanding of each child. This approach involves systematically gathering, interpreting and responding to information about students. Teachers and students need to know what students know, how they know it, how they show it, and what they need to learn next. Student agency is critical. Current research on assessment, evaluation and student learning requires us to work together to understand, recognize and communicate about student learning in new ways. Part of this evolution is a move towards outcomes-based assessment and reporting. In Alberta, the Programs of Study set out learning outcomes for the content the student should understand, the skills they should develop, and the learning processes they should apply. With outcomes-based assessment and reporting, student learning is assessed in relation to all aspects of the Program of Studies—the front matter as well as the general and specific learner outcomes. The Calgary Board of Education’s framework for the assessment and reporting of Academic Success, Citizenship, Personal Development and Character in and through learning emphasizes the importance of Results 2, 3, 4, 5 in students’ daily learning experiences and as part of the focus on personalization that defines our system strategy to advance student learning. Academic success (Results 2) is achieved through daily learning tasks that are centered on the Alberta Programs of Study. Citizenship, Personal Development and Character (Results 3, 4 and 5) are essential elements of all Programs of Study, at all grade levels, and are often identified as learning processes, dimensions of thinking, competencies or disciplinary ways of knowing. Teachers integrate these aspects of learning in intentional and explicit ways within daily learning tasks. August 2015 Page 2 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 The following Guiding Principles are intended to provide a coherent CBE framework for the assessment and reporting of the expectations set out in the Program of Studies and/or a student’s Individual Program Plan. This document includes: Guiding Principles | Assessment Guiding Principles | Assessment For and Of Learning Guiding Principles | Communicating Student Learning Guiding Principles | Determining Achievement The above sections are interconnected. They are intended to be thought about together; each section reflects equally important aspects of assessment and reporting. However, instructional leaders and teachers may choose to focus on a single document at a particular time in order to build capacity within their school. August 2015 Page 3 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 “Assidere”- to sit beside or with Guiding Principles | Assessment (from Latin - Assess) In the Calgary Board of Education, assessment is an integral part of the teaching and learning process. Personalized learning occurs through flexible, responsive relationships between the teacher, the student and the content within the instructional core. Assessment includes a continuous cycle of instruction, gathering evidence from a variety of sources, interpreting that evidence and making adjustments. Students work alongside teachers in an active pursuit of learning, developing selfunderstanding and participating in decision-making. The instructional core represents the dynamic relationship between: the teacher; the student; and the content. At the centre of the instructional core is the process of instructional design, involving both the task and assessment. “Assessment that works in the interests of children will enhance their ability to see and understand their learning for themselves, to judge it for themselves, and to act on their judgments.” Assessment in the CBE is based on: A sense of purpose Assessment serves student learning. The purpose of assessment is for teachers, students and families to have an accurate understanding of what a student knows and can do in relation to Programs of Study and/or appropriate Individual Program Plans in order to determine appropriate next steps in learning. Student agency Teachers and students share responsibility for making assessment decisions and determining next steps in learning. Students have an active role in their learning when they reflect, engage in ongoing conversation, know themselves as learners and participate meaningfully in decision-making. (Mary Jane Drummond, n.d.) Professional collaboration and analysis of student work Professional Learning Communities share and analyze student work in ways that emphasize reflection, inquiry and a shared responsibility for student success. Professionals learn together as they critically examine and reflect on pedagogy and practice, supporting one another in assessment and instructional design. Quality learning tasks Learning tasks are designed with individual students and/or groups of learners in mind. Grounded in deep disciplinary knowledge, quality learning tasks are developed collaboratively between teachers, students and other professionals (other teachers, community members, experts etc.). Learning tasks elicit evidence of conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, cross-curricular competencies, literacy and numeracy. August 2015 Page 4 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Intentional connections to Programs of Study and CBE Results Teachers design learning using the Alberta Programs of Study, including Academic Success, Citizenship, Personal Development and Character (Results 2, 3, 4 and 5). Thoughtful questioning Teacher questioning invites students to explore their ideas and understandings, as well as their learning processes and personal strategies. Student questioning provides opportunities for teachers to explore their own content knowledge, instructional methods and understanding of the student. A process rather than an event Assessment is woven throughout daily learning experiences. It supports teachers in designing appropriate learning tasks and making responsive adjustments. Assessment is ongoing throughout the school year, offering students multiple and varied opportunities to develop and demonstrate understanding. Assessment enables students to show growth and achievement in different contexts over a period of time, ensuring the accuracy of assessment information. Flexible methodology Assessment methods are selected according to the students involved, the nature of the discipline, the focus of the learning outcome(s) and the context in which the learning occurs. Assessment methods are chosen to create the best possible conditions for each student to demonstrate understanding. Inclusive practices Assessment methods build on the backgrounds and prior experiences of students and do not disadvantage learners based on developmental stage, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic background, language, etc. Actionable feedback Actionable feedback is timely, specific, understandable and meaningful. Feedback —student to teacher, teacher to student, and student to student—informs teachers’ instructional decisions and supports students in navigating their learning. Individual student strengths and areas for growth Assessment reflects the progress an individual student has made toward learning outcomes and/or individual program plan goals. Comparisons are not made to other students and individual student achievement is not amalgamated with that of other learners. Assessment informs next steps for a particular student at a particular point in time, considering individual strengths and areas for growth. August 2015 Page 5 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Clear and meaningful communication Assessment practices clearly communicate the relationship between student achievement and targeted learning outcomes, with an emphasis on how well, not when or by what means, the student has demonstrated specific knowledge, skills and/or processes. Networks of teachers, parents and students work together to support student learning. Assessment-rich communication is student-specific, strength-based, growth-oriented, clear, purposeful and timely. August 2015 Page 6 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 References Cooper, D. (2011). Redefining Fair: How to plan, assess, and grade for excellence in mixed-ability classrooms. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press. Guskey, T. (2015). On your mark: Challenging the conventions of grading and reporting. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press. Joint Advisory Committee (1993). Principles for fair student assessment practices for education in Canada. Edmonton, Canada: University of Alberta. Leahy, S., Lyon, C., Thompson, M., & Wiliam, D. (2005, November). Classroom assessment: Minute by minute, day by day, Educational Leadership, 63(3), 19-24. O’Connor, K. (2012). Fifteen fixes for broken grades: A repair kit. Toronto: ON: Pearson Canada Inc. Schimmer, T. (2012). Ten things that matter from assessment to grading. Toronto, ON: Pearson Canada Inc. Webber, C.F., Aitken, N. Lupart, J. & Scott, S. (2009). The Alberta student assessment study final report. Edmonton, Canada: Government August 2015 Page 7 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Guiding Principles | Assessment For and Of Learning In the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), the personalization of learning is assessment-rich. Assessment involves systematically gathering, analyzing and interpreting information about what students know and are able to do. Responding to assessment information guides next steps in teaching and learning. Formative assessment, assessment for learning, is part of the continuous interaction between the student and the teacher. Through ongoing cycles of feedback and instruction, students and teachers check learning in order to make decisions about next steps. Summative assessment, assessment of learning, is a comparison at a particular moment in time between individual student achievement and established provincial expectations and/or Individual Program Plans. Formative and summative assessment influence and inform one another. Both contribute to understanding a student in order to make personalized decisions for learning. Assessment for Learning: Is student-centered ▪ determines what the student knows and is able to do, and points to next steps for teaching and learning ▪ involves students as active participants ▪ begins with an understanding of the student’s current learning and builds on previous accomplishments ▪ creates opportunities and experiences that respond to the specific strengths and needs of a student (is strength-based and growth-oriented) Is ongoing ▪ involves multiple and varied assessments over time ▪ informs the learning process: enables teachers to adjust instructional responses and enables the student to adjust learning strategies ▪ incorporates timely, descriptive, specific, actionable feedback from students to teachers and teachers to students August 2015 Page 8 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 “We know how to use classroom assessment to make success a driving force in the learning life of every student. We no longer need to accept the assessment legacy of our past. We know better.” (Stiggins, 2004, p. 27) References learning outcomes and clear criteria ▪ makes clear connections to learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and learning processes) from: o Alberta Programs of Study, including Academic Success, Citizenship, Personal Development and Character (Results 2, 3, 4 and 5) o Individual Program Plans o Cross-Curricular Competencies (Ministerial Order #001-2013) ▪ relates learning tasks and assessment to clearly articulated criteria for success Enables and encourages teacher reflection ▪ elicits evidence of student learning that can be analyzed by individual teachers and professional learning communities ▪ informs instructional decisions ▪ supports the development of teachers’ metacognitive processes ▪ invites teachers to become students of their own practice (Hattie, 2012, p.14) Engages students in their own learning ▪ enables the student to use outcomes and established criteria as reference points to critically analyze their learning ▪ encourages the student to reflect on their learning and monitor their own progress ▪ engages students and teachers in co-creating learning tasks and assessment and collaboratively establishing criteria for success ▪ empowers the student to exercise agency and make meaningful decisions about their own learning Invites families to support student learning ▪ provides opportunities for students to share and articulate their learning with families ▪ provides the student’s family with opportunities to contribute insights about their child ▪ provides families with feedback to support the learning process August 2015 Page 9 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Assessment of Learning: Is evaluative or summative in nature ▪ confirms what a student knows and can do at a certain point in time ▪ includes evaluative evidence such as culminating activities, performance tasks, observations, conversations, and artifacts of student learning References learning outcomes and clear criteria ▪ clearly references learning outcomes from: o Alberta Programs of Study, including Academic Success, Citizenship, Personal Development and Character (Results 2, 3, 4 and 5) o Individual Program Plans o Cross-Curricular Competencies (Ministerial Order #001-2013) ▪ relates to clearly articulated criteria for success ▪ allows for learning accommodations for all learners without penalty Is based on a body of varied assessment evidence ▪ aligns with Guiding Principles | Determining Achievement [HyperLink] ▪ gives multiple and varied opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding ▪ considers both recent performance and the consistent demonstration of understanding ▪ is based on a select, prioritized sample from a body of assessment evidence ▪ requires analysis based on deep disciplinary knowledge, conversation with the student, and professional collaboration Is thoughtfully determined ▪ requires professional judgment in determining how evidence of student learning is used to evaluate the achievement of learner outcomes and determine summative grades August 2015 Page 10 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Reports student achievement at a specific point in time ▪ the report card and IPP are the only documents that communicate summative achievement. ▪ summarizes student achievement with indicators against report card outcomes in grades K-9 ▪ summarizes student achievement with percentage grades against courses in grades 10-12 ▪ provides descriptive feedback through written comments August 2015 Page 11 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 References Alberta Education (2011). Framework for learning: Competencies for engaged thinkers and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit. Edmonton, Canada: Alberta Education. Cooper, D. (2011). Redefining Fair: How to plan, assess, and grade for excellence in mixed-ability classrooms. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press. Hattie, J. (2012). Visible learning for teachers: Maximizing impact on learning. New York: Routledge. Joint Advisory Committee (1993). Principles for fair student assessment practices for education in Canada. Edmonton, Canada: University of Alberta. O’Connor, K. (2007). A repair kit for grading: 15 fixes for broken grades. Portland, Schimmer, T. (2014). Ten things that matter: From assessment to grading. Toronto, Canada: Pearson Stiggins, R. (2004). New assessment beliefs from a new school mission. Phi Delta Kappan, 86(1), 22-27. August 2015 Page 12 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Guiding Principles | Communicating Student Learning In the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), assessment is an integral part of the teaching and learning process. The personalization of learning is supported by ongoing conversations between educators, students, families and other professionals with the goal of improving student learning. These communications are fundamental to student success and create responsive processes to understand and support each learner. As part of a comprehensive communication system, assessment information is the basis for communication about student progress and achievement. Ongoing communication allows teachers, students and families to understand what a student knows and can do, monitor what progress has been made, and determine next steps in learning. Communicating about student learning is an ongoing process that takes several forms. Principals and their staff work together with the school community to create a comprehensive approach that communicates individual student progress and achievement. Ongoing Communication Effective communication about learning requires the teacher, student, and families to be partners in the learning process. In addition to formal communication through report cards and IPPs, student-specific informal communication about issues, events, progress and accomplishments in day-to-day learning occurs on an ongoing basis. Some examples may include e-mails, notes in agendas, Student Learning Updates (Interim Progress Reports), phone calls, after school conversations, etc. As part of a school-based communication plan, families also have opportunities to attend celebrations, open houses, or other school events that help them to better understand their child’s learning. Both informal and formal aspects of ongoing communication about student learning allow teachers to communicate significant aspects of learning so that students and families are able to answer the question, “How is my child/how am I doing in school?” August 2015 Page 13 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Formal | K-12 In the CBE, the purpose of formal communication (report cards and Individual Program Plans (IPPs)) is to summarize and communicate individual student achievement in relation to the expectations of the Alberta Programs of Study and/or Individual Program Plans at a specific point in time. Informal | K-12 In the CBE, informal communication takes a variety of forms but serves a common purpose–to build shared understandings of what students know and can do in dayto-day learning experiences. Figure 1. - Ongoing Communication August 2015 Page 14 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 The communication system needs to be comprehensive, coherent, and feasible. All the pieces need to fit together so that detailed information about the student as learner is provided in appropriate ways and at appropriate times. (Manitoba Education, 2008, p. 20) Communicating student learning is: Student-specific ▪ shares specific examples of what a student knows and can do in relation to the Programs of Study and/or Individual Program Plans ▪ invites conversation between family, student and teacher(s) that builds a shared understanding of the whole child ▪ is personalized and tailored to the individual student based on specific evidence of learning as well as the student and family’s communication preferences ▪ is based on information gathered from observations, conversations, and artifacts of student learning Strength-based and growth-oriented ▪ refers to specific knowledge, skills and attitudes that are most relevant to the student’s achievement during the current reporting period ▪ clearly identifies strengths demonstrated in learning ▪ makes visible and supports the relationship between the student’s approach to learning and academic success ▪ bridges current learning and new learning, suggesting possibilities for applying observed strengths to other learning situations ▪ identifies the student’s most significant learning needs and invites collaboration around next steps, ▪ seeks parent and student perspectives about strengths and areas for growth ▪ identifies strategies currently being employed at school and suggest, where appropriate, strategies that families might try support the child’s learning Aligned with provincial Programs of Study, IPPs and CBE Results ▪ makes clear connections to: o Alberta Programs of Study, including Academic Success, Citizenship, Personal Development and Character (Results 2, 3, 4 and 5) o Individual Program Plans o Cross-Curricular Competencies (Ministerial Order #001-2013) August 2015 Page 15 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Clear, succinct, timely and easily understood ▪ provides specific, accurate and meaningful information related to important aspects of learning ▪ describes current learning and next steps in a straightforward manner ▪ uses vocabulary and sentence structure that is clear and accessible to students and families ▪ provides an explanation of terminology that may be unfamiliar to students and families ▪ provides flexible and responsive conferencing opportunities ▪ reflects professional integrity in both content and structure or process ▪ reflects consistent, established structures for reporting August 2015 Page 16 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 References Alberta Education (2011). Framework for learning: Competencies for engaged thinkers and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit. Edmonton, Canada: Alberta Education. Manitoba Education (2008). Communicating student learning: Guidelines for schools. Manitoba, Canada: Manitoba Education. August 2015 Page 17 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Guiding Principles | Determining Achievement While some might argue that any focus on grades will inherently impede the learning process for students, the intent here is to find, within our existing grading systems, the soundest grading practices to accurately communicate student learning. (Schimmer, 2014, p. 122) The personalization of learning requires knowing each student through the thoughtful gathering and consideration of evidence of student learning. A varied body of assessment evidence provides information about the learner’s strengths and areas for growth against well-understood learning outcomes from Programs of Study and/or Individual Program Plans. Teachers may assess individual assignments, projects, performance tasks, observations, conversations, culminating activities, quizzes and tests as part of a body of assessment evidence. A variety of assessment methods are used, as appropriate to specific learning tasks. The ongoing assessment of learning may support teachers, students and families to understand how a student is progressing in learning and consider next steps. Teachers use professional judgment to evaluate a body of assessment evidence. This requires understanding the learner, deep disciplinary knowledge and professional collaboration. Determining achievement requires: Accuracy ▪ learning outcomes from the Programs of Study and/or Individual Program Plans are explicit and consistent reference points ▪ sources of evidence (observations, performances, tests, conversations, reflections, products etc.) are aligned with the nature of the learning outcome(s) ▪ teachers and students recognize that learning involves exploration, practice, performance, review, refinement, adjustments etc. ▪ a reliable and credible amount of evidence is gathered to determine the extent to which a student has achieved learning outcomes ▪ teachers make careful decisions about what constitutes an appropriate body of evidence, understanding that not all assessment information should be included in determining achievement ▪ determining achievement is free from distortion (distorting factors include but are not limited to: bonus marks, late submission deductions, marks for neatness, compliance, attendance, behaviour, etc.) August 2015 Page 18 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 ▪ factors such as behaviour, effort, attendance, compliance, neatness, group contributions, participation, initiative etc. are reported separately from academic achievement (Webber, Aitken, Lupart, & Scott, 2009, Guskey, 2006, Reeves, 2004) ▪ teachers and students develop reliable and consistent record keeping systems to capture evidence of student achievement ▪ grades are not simply calculated using a mathematical algorithm, such as an averaging of weighted scores ▪ professional judgment is used in relation to a body of assessment evidence to accurately determine a level of achievement ▪ inferences that can be upheld by the evidence collected Fairness ▪ practices for determining achievement are developed to honour and respect the worth and dignity of each student ▪ every learner has the right to access personal strategies and supports (time, technology, tools, space, equipment, scribes, readers, alternative formats, etc.) that remove barriers to Programs of Study, learning tasks and assessment without consequence to grades ▪ the purposes, criteria and expectations for determining achievement are clearly articulated for students and families ▪ each student is provided timely and accurate feedback as well as an explanation as to how and if their work will be evaluated ▪ determination of achievement seeks out an appropriate representation of the individual student’s understanding ▪ recourse strategies are in place for students and families Consistency and Recency ▪ multiple opportunities are provided for students to practice, improve based on feedback, demonstrate their learning, and reflect on their growth ▪ the most consistent evidence of a student’s learning is used to determine achievement ▪ special consideration is given to most recent demonstrations of understanding August 2015 Page 19 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Rethinking Late Penalties and Zero’s When assignments are not submitted on time or at all, there are a number of appropriate responses. These include: ▪ considering an entire body of assessment evidence to determine student achievement for the report card (this may include partially complete assignments, personalized assignments and/or other opportunities to demonstrate understanding etc.) ▪ helping students improve their time management, organizational or problem solving skills ▪ working with families and students on a plan to complete assignments ▪ creating supervised and structured opportunities for students to complete their work ▪ creating flexible approaches for task completion with students to submit major assignments in stages to avoid all-or-nothing completion and to create more manageable pieces of work For more information about Ongoing Communication see: Companion Guide to the CBE Vision for Assessment and Reporting For more information about Report Card Comments see: Criteria for Report Card Comments, Comment Examples and Guiding Questions for Collaborative Analysis August 2015 Page 20 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 References Alberta Assessment Consortium (2001). Smerging data: Grading…more than just number crunching. Edmonton, Canada: Alberta Assessment Consortium. Government of Alberta (Draft 2011). Professional Practice Competencies for Teachers. Edmonton, Canada: Professional Standards Branch. Guskey, T. R. (May, 2006). Making high school grades meaningful. Phi Delta Kappa International, 87(9), pp. 670-675. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20442125 Joint Advisory Committee (1993). Principles for fair student assessment practices for education in Canada. Edmonton, Canada: University of Alberta. O’Connor, K. (2007). A repair kit for grading: 15 fixes for broken grades. Portland, Reeves, D.B. (Dec 2004). The case against zeros. Phi Delta Kappan 86 (4). Retrieved from http://schools.esu13.org/bannercounty/Documents/caseagainstzero.pdfhttp:/ /schools.esu13.org/bannercounty/Documents/caseagainstzero.pdf Reeves, D.B. (2011). Elements of grading: A guide to effective practice. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree. Schimmer, T. (2014). Ten things that matter: From assessment to grading. Toronto, Canada: Pearson Webber, C.F., Aitken, N. Lupart, J. & Scott, S. (2009). The Alberta student assessment study final report. Edmonton, Canada. Western and Northern Canadian Protocol for Collaboration and Communication in Education (2006). Rethinking classroom assessment with purpose in mind: Assessment for learning, Assessment as learning, assessment of learning. Manitoba, Canada: Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth. August 2015 Page 21 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Glossary Achievement Achievement is the extent to which an individual student has met the expectations of the Alberta Programs of Study. Achievement Indicator The achievement indicator signifies the extent to which a student has demonstrated achievement of each report card outcome. On the Kindergarten to Grade 9 report card, students receive achievement indicators 1 (Not Meeting) to 4 (Excellent) against each report card outcome in a course. Alberta Programs of Study The Alberta Programs of Study are the required expectations for the core and complementary learning components for elementary, junior and senior high schools. Content is focused on what students are expected to know and be able to do. Assessment The act of making judgment; here, a process of gathering and analyzing evidence of learning to inform instructional design and to determine the degree to which the student has achieved learning expectations. Defensible Based in sound professional judgment and supported through evidence. Evaluation The process of gathering and analyzing evidence of learning to make a professional judgment about student achievement. Evidence Any observation, conversation or product of student learning that provides valid data about what the student knows and can do. Formative Assessment Formative assessment is information a student or teacher uses to make decisions about next steps about learning. Outcome The intended learning. In Alberta, the Programs of Study describe what students are expected to know and be able to do. Teachers use outcomes to guide their daily planning and as a point of reference for assessment. August 2015 Page 22 | 25 Moving Forward | CBE Guiding Principles of Assessment 2015-16 Progress Progress is the growth in learning an individual student makes from where they started. Reliable Consistent and trustworthy; replicable with a reasonable degree of consistency from one context to the next; provides what is required for appropriate action. Reporting Period (K-9) A reporting period is the time between a student’s first day of school, and the first report card, or the time between the first report card and the second report card. Summative Assessment Summative assessment is a comparison at a particular moment in time between an individual student’s achievement and the outcomes of the Alberta Programs of Study. August 2015 Page 23 | 25
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