Assessments Audits: Giving a Robust Assessments System a "Haircut" (Poster 10)

• In Event: Division H: Global Perspectives on Standardized Assessment

Abstract

Student assessments are essential tools for evaluating student learning and guiding instruction. While they offer significant benefits, such as improving systems and student outcomes, they also impose costs on schools, educators, and students. To balance these factors, regular audits of a district's assessment system are necessary. This presentation outlines an assessment audit conducted in a Texas district, highlighting ways to reduce the burden on students and educators while maintaining a strong system for decision-making. We will present the audit's framework, data collection, and analysis methods, and discuss how assessments were intended versus how they were used. Finally, we will share the audit's findings, recommendations, and their impact on improving the district's assessment practices.

Authors

• David J. Osman, Gibson Consulting

• Veronica Joyner, Garland Independent School District