USD 497

USD 497 Lawrence, Kansas Board Policy Educational Program Series 400

Assessment Program Code 412

Principles for Assessment:
Assessments are to provide multiple means to evaluate the district and building achievement goals, to set high expectations for student performance and to evaluate that performance. To meet that end, the assessment program needs to:
Enhance student learning through ongoing assessment,
Set high expectations for student performance,
Be sensitive to the needs of a multicultural, diverse community,
Be an integral part of the district’s curriculum, instructional, and assessment improvement process,
Provide information teachers can use to improve instruction and student achievement,
And, consider information from multiple sources to yield valid inferences about student learning.

Assessment information is to be designed to provide teachers with information that can improve student learning and provide the district with information about progress toward district standards and to allow for data driven decisions regarding program evaluation. The assessment program will utilize state and district assessment information as well as other comparative data. To accomplish program evaluation, specific program goals will be stated and student measures will provide data (information) to determine progress toward those goals. The purposes of the assessment program are to provide data for all decision makers:

To assist each student to achieve significant educational outcomes.
To provide ongoing formative evaluation of the district’s educational programs.
To provide accountability.

Procedures for Assessment:
The assessment program will be periodically reviewed and approved by the board of education and administered by the superintendent or designee(s). Multiple forms of assessment will be used to assess all students of the district and to evaluate instructional programs. The development and coordination of assessments are the responsibility of the superintendent and designee(s).

The basic assessment program for all students may be augmented by individual and/or supplementary tests and alternative assessments determined to be appropriate for individual students or for individual schools or programs. However, testing should be used to meet the goals of this policy and not result in students spending more time being assessed than necessary. The development and coordination of the individual and/or supplementary testing programs are the responsibility of the superintendent and designee(s). The superintendent and designee(s) may determine that prior permission must be obtained from parents or guardians before certain individual and/or supplementary tests or accommodations are administered to a student.

Date of Adoption: Legal Reference:
Revised: October 10, 1977
March 16, 1998