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assessment

Overview

Assessments can serve a number of purposes: screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring, and outcome evaluation.

  • Universal screening assessments (i.e. benchmark assessments) provide information about the knowledge and skills base of the student. They are useful for determining the most appropriate starting point for instruction and for planning instructional groups. NDMTSS recommends screening students at the beginning, middle and end of the year to identify students who are at the most risk of failure.
  • Diagnostic assessments identify a student's strengths or weaknesses in specific skill areas. Diagnostics are the next logical step if a student is identified by the screener for being at risk of failure. They help in pinpointing the lowest deficit skill areas and the starting place for intervention.
  • Progress monitoring tools serve to guide the specific focus of instruction by periodically checking to see if progress toward mastery is being made as a result of the instruction or intervention. There are different frequencies for administering a progress monitor, depending on the type and frequency of the intervention itself.
  • Outcome evaluation (i.e. summative assessment) is often used at the end of a unit of study. It is a form of summative assessment to gauge whether students have met learning objectives for a specific content area. State end-of-year assessments, such as the NDSA (ND A+) or the ACT, are one type of outcome evaluation. Outcome assessments may be useful in guiding educators and school leaders in evaluating the effectiveness of instruction, interventions, and/or curricula.

*Adapted from NDTQ

Why It’s Essential

Assessment is an important part of a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) because it helps educators to identify the academic and behavioral needs of students, monitor their progress, and provide appropriate interventions. These practices help to inform instruction, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and determine the level of support needed for each student. Assessment data also helps to guide decision making and problem solving within MTSS teams.

Some of the benefits of assessment within MTSS:

  • It helps to prevent academic and behavioral difficulties by providing early and timely support to students who are at risk.
  • It helps to increase student engagement and motivation by providing feedback and goal setting.
  • It helps to improve student outcomes and close achievement gaps by using evidence-based practices and data-driven decisions.
  • It helps to differentiate instruction and intervention based on student’s strengths and needs.
Therefore, assessment is a key component of MTSS that supports the whole child and maximizes student achievement.

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North Dakota’s Multi-Tier System of Supports (NDMTSS) is a framework to provide all students with the best opportunities to succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally in school. NDMTSS focuses on providing high-quality instruction and interventions matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about changes in instruction or goals. Data is used to allocate resources to improve student learning and support staff implementation of effective practices.

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