Assessment is much broader than testing. It's defined as "the planning, collection, analysis, interpretation, and use of data from multiple sources overtimes that communicate student performance in relation to standards, learning goals, learning targets, or differentiated learning objectives". Assessment involves:
- Analyzing student performance data, looking for strengths to build on, and identifying areas in need of further instruction and assistance.
- Reporting student strengths and needs in ways that are beneficial to students, teachers, and the school
- Collecting appropriate data from a variety of sources, ranging from informal observation of students in the class to more formal scoring of student performances on specific tasks using common rubrics.
- Using student data performance to identify what a student must learn in order to progress to the next level
- Planning what, how, and when to assess, with attention to the varied purposes of different constituents or stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, and local and state administrators.