Francis Howell School District
 Assessment

The Francis Howell School District uses formal assessment data to monitor student progress and program effectiveness through early childhood screening, health screening, state-required achievement assessments, assessments for program planning and assessments to determine student eligibility for special programs. The district also administers standardized tests to monitor progress in general academic achievement and to measure the effectiveness of district programs. Additionally, the district has developed local assessments to provide practice for the Missouri Assessment Plan (MAP), End of Course (EOC) and to assess areas not measured by the MAP.

District policy states that the Francis Howell Board of Education, “...supports the establishment of a district wide educational testing program as one indication of the success and quality of the total education program in the school district. In the case of individual students, standardized tests, in combination with other criteria, can provide an indication of student achievement.”

The Francis Howell School District believes that the core purpose of assessment is to enhance student learning. A comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to assessment is necessary to provide educators with a complete picture of individual student performance as well as program effectiveness.

Formal assessments in the Francis Howell School District are administered to benefit students both directly and indirectly. These assessments benefit students directly when they document individual achievement and progress, and when they identify specific areas of academic strength and weakness. Indirect benefits are obtained when formal assessment data are used to revise and improve educational programs. These data also provide educators with information about instructional effectiveness in relation to student learning.

The Francis Howell School District Comprehensive Assessment Plan, developed by the Assessment Committee and formally adopted January 18, 2001, recognizes and encompasses the following principles:

• All students learn.
• Learning can and should be assessed regularly.
• Assessment is an integral part of excellence.
• Assessment provides for accountability.
• Assessment reflects our community values.
• Assessment must provide diagnostic and prescriptive, as well as evaluative information.
• The goal of assessment is to benefit students and enhance learning.
• Teachers should be the primary assessors.
• Assessment must adhere to all applicable ethical and legal standards.
• Effective use of assessment is essential to achieving excellence.

Francis Howell students will have opportunities to demonstrate what they know and can do on various standardized tests throughout their years in the district. These formal assessments provide a “snapshot” of student performance at a given place and time. To complete the picture of student progress, daily ongoing assessment, embedded in the teaching process and used to provide regular feedback, will also be conducted as an essential means to enhance student learning.