In the education world, we call this time of the year “testing season”. There’s definitely no shortage of assessments being administered right now. I’m okay with that (I think) as long as we remember:
I’m certain you would agree. Administering assessments is not, in and of itself, going to translate to growth towards outcomes and goals. Much like stepping on a scale won’t help you meet your fitness goals. It’s what we do with the data from those assessments and other pieces of data that is important. When developing your internal accountability system, be sure to:
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Set a schoolwide SMARTE goal (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timebound, Equitable) aligned to your desired outcomes.
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Implement a 4-6 week data cycle to measure the progress of your actions related to your desired outcomes.
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During data cycles, monitor and respond to gaps in progress towards goals and outcomes.
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Shamelessly celebrate the progress made towards goals and outcomes.
Check out this podcast to hear my colleagues, Brett and Kathy, discuss goals and the power they have in school and in life.
Believing in you!
Kerry
