How Sunman-Dearborn Implemented District-Wide Balanced Assessment
Sunman-Dearborn Community Schools faced a common hurdle: established pacing guides without frequent, actionable data. By implementing short-cycle common assessments through Formative, the district moved beyond static benchmarks to a dynamic, balanced assessment strategy.
Measurable Results
- Instructional Alignment: All elementary schools are now synchronized, reviewing identical data and questions to bridge learning gaps.
- Data-Driven Accountability: Leaders compare "apples to apples" data district-wide to ensure alignment with state standards.
- Mastery Tracking: The district established a target of 80% mastery on essential standards, supported by real-time progress monitoring.
- Use Short-Cycle Assessments to build a culture of data-driven instruction that improves same-year learning outcomes.
- Provide Continuous Support through bite-sized training as teachers ramp up on common assessment platforms.
- Leverage PLCs to collaborate on best practices and share standards-aligned resources based on common data.
- Prioritize Flexibility in assessment tools to allow for differentiation and accommodations without losing data integrity.
