(a)
Each school entity shall design an assessment system to do the following:
(1) Determine the degree to which students
are achieving academic standards under §
4.12 (relating to academic
standards). The school entity shall provide assistance to students not
attaining academic standards at the proficient level or better.
(2) Use assessment results to improve
curriculum and instructional practices and to guide instructional
strategies.
(3) Provide information
requested by the Department regarding the achievement of academic standards,
but which does not include student names, identification numbers or
individually identifiable information.
(4) Provide summary information, including
results of assessments under this section, to the general public regarding the
achievement of students, but which does not include student names,
identification numbers or individually identifiable information.
(b) The local assessment system
shall be approved by the board of school directors, at minimum, once every 6
years and implemented no later than 1 year after the approval date.
(c) The local assessment system shall be
designed to include a variety of assessment strategies which may include the
following:
(1) Written work by
students.
(2) Scientific
experiments conducted by students.
(3) Works of art or musical, theatrical or
dance performances by students.
(4)
Other demonstrations, performances, products or projects by students related to
specific academic standards.
(5)
Examinations developed by teachers to assess specific academic
standards.
(6) Nationally-available
achievement tests.
(7) Diagnostic
assessments.
(8) Evaluations of
portfolios of student work related to achievement of academic
standards.
(9) Other measures as
appropriate, which may include standardized tests.
(d) Individual test information shall be
maintained in a student's educational record in a manner consistent with
section 444 of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
(20 U.S.C.A. §
1232g) and 34 CFR Part
99 (relating to family
educational rights and privacy).
(e) Children with disabilities shall be
included in the local assessment system, with appropriate accommodations, when
necessary. As appropriate, the school district, including a charter school,
including a cyber charter school, or ACTS shall develop guidelines for the
participation of children with disabilities in alternate assessments for those
children who cannot participate in the local assessment as determined by each
child's Individualized Education Program team under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act and this part.
(f) The Department will establish a Local
Assessment Validation Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee will
develop the criteria for the local validation process and criteria for
selection of approved validation entities as provided in §
4.24(c)(1)(iii)(B)
(relating to high school graduation requirements). The Department, in
consultation with the Committee, will establish a list of entities approved to
perform independent validations of local assessments. The Committee will submit
its recommendations for approval or disapproval to the Board. The Department
will post the approved criteria, selection criteria and list of approved
entities on its web site.
