Assessment OF Learning is a summative measure of what a student has learned after instruction has ended, such as: unit test, mid-year exam, final exam.
Assessment FOR Learning is a formative measure of what the student already knows and does not know so the teacher may plan future instruction accordingly.
Assessment AS Learning occurs when the assessment is the learning activity, such as the a Capstone project, an activity or project designed to also be a measure of learning. These are also known as performance assessments and typically include a scoring rubric.
Suggestions for parents on how to help students do their best on assessments
Standardized Assessments are tests that are given outside of the curriculum and instruction process. They are typically purchased from a test vendor and provide normative comparisons at the national or state level. The timing of the administration of assessments is more closely related to the school year calendar and program decision-making timelines, than to the pacing of the curriculum and instruction in the classroom. They are used to measure student progress toward meeting grade-level standards, predict performance on state accountability tests, triangulate data for program decisions, screen students for remediation or enrichment, and identify relative strengths and weaknesses in district curriculum and instruction practices to inform professional development and curriculum resource decisions.
We administer several standardized assessments to monitor student academic achievement, academic growth and preparedness for college and career goals. They fall into three categories.
State Accountability Tests: These tests are mandated by the state and are used to measure student attainment of Minnesota Grade Level Standards, school/district effectiveness and student readiness for MN State College and University courses.
District Standardized Tests - These tests are purchased by the district and administered to inform educational programming and instructional decision-making.
National College and Career Readiness Tests - These tests inform students, parents and staff on student progress toward national college and career readiness standards.
Below is a link to District Target Scores for all local standardized assessments. Target scores allow families and staff a reference to student performance. District Target scores also allow staff to determine if students are on track with their peers, of if any additional instruction (or enrichment) will fit the needs of that student.
The Minnesota Report Card gives you easy access to understandable district and school data.
This tool is designed to provide parents, educators, schools, districts and citizens with easy access to important information about schools to help them make decisions and be engaged in the education of Minnesota students. Choose from several reports to learn more about the state of education in your local district, a specific school, or the state as a whole.
St. Michael-Albertville Public Schools uses district standardized assessments to measure student progress toward meeting grade level standards, predict performance on state accountability tests, triangulate data for program decisions, screen students for remediation or enrichment, and identify relative strengths and weaknesses in district curriculum and instruction practices to inform professional development and curriculum resource decisions. The district administers several standardized assessments to monitor student academic achievement, academic growth, and preparedness for college and career goals. Detailed information about the district’s assessments can be found on the Assessment page of the district website under “Assessment Overview” -
As a parent, you reserve the right to have your son and/or daughter participate in Statewide testing. The state gives each individual district flexibility on how parents may request that their child not particpate in statewide testing. St. Michael-Albertville requires that any parent requesting to not have their son or daughter participate in Statewide testing must complete this form and turn into the building principal of that student. No other forms of refusal will be accepted (ie. letters, notes, email, phone calls...etc).