{"id":18305,"date":"2023-11-30T14:07:44","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T19:07:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/?p=18305"},"modified":"2023-11-30T16:50:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T21:50:44","slug":"promising-steps-towards-innovative-assessment-through-iada-guidance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/blog\/promising-steps-towards-innovative-assessment-through-iada-guidance\/","title":{"rendered":"Promising Steps Towards Innovative Assessment Through IADA Guidance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Effectively transitioning to student-centered, competency-based education will require new\u00a0systems of assessments<\/a>\u00a0that align to student-centered learning. In partnership with communities, many state, district, and school leaders are seeking new ways to integrate assessments for learning into students\u2019 educational experiences. These new systems of assessments aim to be more timely, responsive, and accessible to educators, parents, and students, producing information that allows educators, schools, and systems to adapt and change course over time. While progress has been made, current federal constraints are making comprehensive change challenging.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Allison Shelley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the\u00a0Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)<\/a>, Congress encouraged state leaders to think differently about assessment through the\u00a0Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA)<\/a>. The IADA attempts to provide states space to explore innovative assessment approaches while maintaining the critical role assessments play in ensuring equity and accountability. While Congress\u2019s intentions were good, the practical realities of implementing IADA have been challenging, and the program has not led to the transformation in assessment we were all hoping to see.<\/p>\n

Recognizing this, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) recently asked for feedback about how to make IADA more appealing and more effective in driving assessment innovation at scale. The Aurora Institute, along with other national organizations committed to advancing student-centered learning, provided\u00a0suggestions<\/a>\u00a0for how to improve the program. And we weren\u2019t alone; USED received many comments on the program and ways to improve it.<\/p>\n

Secretary Cardona\u2019s recent\u00a0letter<\/a>\u00a0to Chief State School Officers highlighting improvements to USED\u2019s implementation of IADA shows significant progress. The Secretary underscores the critical role that assessments play in effective education and acknowledges the shortcomings of current assessment approaches, many of which are driven by federal requirements. In an attempt to improve IADA, the Secretary clarifies several key provisions and identifies ways USED is working to encourage state participation. We found the following USED clarifications to be particularly helpful:<\/p>\n