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.
Author Archives: Charlie DePascale
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.
The Personalization Paradox
On the surface, standardization seems to be the antithesis of personalization. The current attitude toward standardized tests and testing bears that out. But if we look below the surface, we might reach a very different conclusion.
Death By A Thousand Arrows
Theory of Action for Educational Assessment and Accountability: A concept that sounds good on paper until you see a theory of action on paper. Generally not much actionable action and the theory tends to be theoretical. But lots of arrows!
Embrace the Absurd 