Does My School or District Have a Balanced Assessment System?

Evaluate your district’s readiness for a balanced assessment system that drives instructional growth.

School and district leaders are under increasing pressure to ensure assessments truly support instruction and equity. This checklist helps administrators evaluate readiness by examining formative, interim, and summative practices, grading policies, and resource planning to identify high-impact improvements.

Key Benefits

With this guide, districts can:

Audit assessment coherence to clarify purpose, alignment, and instructional value.
Improve data-informed decision-making at the classroom, school, and district levels.
Strengthen grading practices by distinguishing between daily practice and performance evidence.
Promote equity in assessment by expanding opportunities for students to demonstrate learning.
Guide strategic planning using data that informs interventions and resource allocation.

Who Should Use This Resource?

District administrators and central office leaders
School principals and instructional leadership teams
Curriculum and assessment leadership staff
Districts evaluating or refining a balanced assessment system

Does My School or District Have a Balanced Assessment System?

Evaluate your district’s readiness for a balanced assessment system that drives instructional growth.

School and district leaders are under increasing pressure to ensure assessments truly support instruction and equity. This checklist helps administrators evaluate readiness by examining formative, interim, and summative practices, grading policies, and resource planning to identify high-impact improvements.

Key Benefits

With this guide, districts can:

Audit assessment coherence to clarify purpose, alignment, and instructional value.
Improve data-informed decision-making at the classroom, school, and district levels.
Strengthen grading practices by distinguishing between daily practice and performance evidence.
Promote equity in assessment by expanding opportunities for students to demonstrate learning.
Guide strategic planning using data that informs interventions and resource allocation.