Quality performance assessment: harnessing the power of teacher and student learning

Standardized testing is just one form of assessment available to districts and schools. To generate a robust portrait of students’ achievement, policymakers and educators should consider quality performance assessments that measure mastery rather than memorization. This 2012 report offers a definition for performance assessment and details examples of schools using these systems. The authors provide a framework and essential elements for implementing a performance assessment system, including aligned instruction and professional communities of practice.