Charlie DePascale

Reclaiming State Testing’s Formative Roots

“This above all: to thine own self be true.” We have been willing accomplices as others have defined state testing as summative assessment. Before we can move forward with state testing, we have to embrace it as a component of formative evaluation.

Artificial Intelligence: It’s Only Human

We’ve been dealing with artificial intelligence our entire lives – but in human form. Is it really all that different this time around? Computers may complicate the issue a bit, but in the words of Pogo, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Taking Stock

Educational assessment is at a crossroads. Fundamentally, the same crossroads that we stood before in 2010. That time we took the more well-worn path and that has made all the difference. Now we have a second chance to take the road less travelled by and see where that takes us.

Tell Me Why

At a recent TAC meeting, the state reported pressure to make the test shorter – again. I questioned whether there was a right answer. Will the test ever be short enough? When people are asking for changes to test length, content, or uses, what do they really want?

A Long Time Coming

Too bad I used “Party In The USA” as the title of my last post, because we are certainly partying in our part of the USA. The Boston Celtics are back on top of the basketball world – where they lived comfortably for the first three decades of my life.

Party In The USA

“Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” Not if you were hoping for different choices in the presidential election. Where did it all go wrong? I think there’s a Primary problem.

It Hit Different This Time

It’s never been easy to say goodbye to a friend. But the experience was different this time.

Getting Back to Basics (and Proficient) With Accountability

First Law of Holes: If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

First Law of Blogs: If you find yourself feeling really emotional, don’t post.

The field routinely ignores the first. I regularly ignore the second.

So, let’s talk school accountability.

When Will They Ever Learn?

I spent a morning this week taking standardized Reading, Writing, and Mathematics tests. First takeaway, standardized tests are not meant for 65-year-olds (as long as I can still draw the clock face). Why did I put myself through that exercise? It’s all for the blog.

Livin’ On A Prayer

Don’t talk about religion they say. But the commencement kicker and 60 Minutes with Pope Francis propelled Catholics back to the top of the news cycle for a few days. For good reason, that hasn’t been a comfortable place for us.