OK... we need to start talking about assessment in an open, constructive way in Chicago and the U.S. Granted Finland implemented reforms 30+ years ago and teachers have more respect, trust, and autonomy, but we have to start somewhere, sometime (and not with the district leaders strategy of the year). We need a strategic, collaborative, comprehensive approach to assessment planned with educators for children in the U.S.
Today I attended a class about the training for "teacher-conducted" assessments in Finland for the University of Helsinki's STEP (Subject Teacher Education Programme in English) teacher prepartion program.
Most countries are doing less assessment -- not Chicago. This year, teachers are directed to administer and students are given more assessments -- using more instructional time -- than I have had in twenty years with CPS. In Finland -- there are NO standardized tests mandated by the country or the city for students to take. Each school and more specifically each teacher designs and implements the formative assessments and summative assessments to inform their instruction. The only national test is the matriculation exam at the end of upper secondary students for those students (about 2/3 of the students) that want to continue to college.
OK -- reality is with the national Common Core State Standards (CCSS) that national assessments are here to stay. How can we get back most of the instructional time we have lost to all the other mandated district, state, and national tests? How do we as teachers get more of an effective, respected voice as to the quantity and format of the assessments that students need to take? Is there a U.S. city or state doing this better than Chicago or the State of Illinois?
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