Evaluating Assessment Alignment

Professional Development Credit – This Micro-Credential may be eligible for continuing professional development credit in your state. Contact your state affiliate association to learn more.

Overview – The Evaluating Assessment Alignment Micro-Credential requires that the practitioner demonstrates proficiency of all the essential outcomes and the research-based subskills defined in the details. These include the ability to provide structures and processes that ensure congruency between assessment, curricular content, and instructional methods; utilize multiple means to effectively communicate to stakeholders a clear understanding of the assessment alignment process, and effect on student learning; create a school environment that is supportive and encouraging to the process of teaching and learning; and provide a plan with strategies, implementation timelines, evaluation and a monitoring process to establish best practices in assessment alignment for organizational improvement. An educational leader must promote development of quality, aligned curriculum, instruction, and assessments using interim and summative assessments to track student progress. Evaluation of assessment data produced by various assessments informs continuous adaptations and improvement (NASSP, 2019).

Essential Outcomes – Evaluating Assessment Alignment includes the following identified essential outcomes:

1. Provide structures and processes that ensure congruency between assessment, curricular content, and instructional methods
2. Utilize multiple means to effectively communicate to all stakeholders a clear understanding of the assessment alignment process, importance, and effect on student learning
3. Create a school environment that is supportive and encouraging to the process of teaching and learning
4. Provide a plan with strategies, implementation timelines, evaluation, and a monitoring process to establish best practices in assessment alignment for organizational improvement

Requirements

Part 1. Overview Questions

Develop a responsive narrative that answers the following questions (1,000-word minimum):

1. What structures and processes have you implemented in your school that ensures that alignment between curriculum, instruction and assessment is an ongoing activity?
2. What practices have you implemented that illustrates evidence of shared leadership with teachers in assessment decision-making?
3. A faculty in any school is likely comprised of teachers with varying levels of experience and philosophies on types of assessment systems of student work. How have you navigated these individual beliefs as you’ve collaborated to develop a shared vision and an aligned plan for assessments in your school?
4. How is the plan for the alignment of assessments communicated to stakeholders both in and outside of the school environment? What types of information are shared and how are stakeholders made aware of goals that are attained and next steps?

Part 2. Skill Demonstration Product with Self-Analysis

Develop an artifact portfolio that captures the essential outcomes for the Evaluating Assessment Alignment Micro-Credential and complete the evidence self-analysis.

For each EO detail you will be required to reference an uploaded artifact(s) and guide the assessor to the specific evidence (page number, video time stamp, etc.) within the uploaded artifact(s). An explanation of how the evidence demonstrates proficiency of the outcome detail is also required. The practitioner must clearly and compellingly demonstrate proficiency of every detail under each essential outcome.

Part 3. Reflection & Application

Submit, in writing, a summary of your experience of Evaluating Assessment Alignment (500-word minimum). Provide specific examples of how you applied all components of the essential outcomes. This could include topics covered and a description of the process used to evaluate assessment alignment, including providing structures and processes for aligning assessment, curricular content, and instructional methods, using multiple means to effectively communicate the assessment alignment process to all stakeholders and the effect of the supportive and encouraging school environment on the process of teaching and learning. This could also include testimonials from teachers on changes of practice that lead to higher levels of learning for their students. Include a reflection about the impact of this skill on your professional practice and how you will continue to apply it in the future.