A Formative Assessment's Transformative Capacity in K-12 Education

Heather Bolinger, Assistant Director at K-12 Assessment Solutions at The University of Georgia

Heather Bolinger, Assistant Director at K-12 Assessment Solutions at The University of Georgia

Heather Bolinger has been the Assistant Director at K-12 Assessment Solutions with the Mary Frances Early College of Education at the University of Georgia since 2015. She oversees projects including formative item and assessment development products, professional development, and product growth. Heather holds an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration, an M.Ed. in Middle Grades Math and Science Education, and a B.S. in Middle Grades Math and Science Education. Her skills include project management, collaboration, and expertise in online assessment platforms. She contributes to various educational projects statewide and at K-12 Assessment Solutions.

Formative assessments, a dynamic and continuous approach for monitoring and supporting student learning, offer numerous advantages that surpass measuring academic progress. For school leaders, these assessments support a culture of ongoing improvement in daily academic experiences, leading to significant and lasting gains in the school's academic outcomes. It helps educators drive their instructional practices across various grade levels, departments, and teams, serving as an anchor of alignment for professional learning and development.

The Role of Educational Leadership in Formative Assessment

Effective educational leaders consistently consider their school's culture, including the learning environment provided by teachers and experienced by students. Those who advocate for regular and expected student progress monitoring prioritize feedback as a crucial tool for success.

● Improving School Performance: Formative assessment data enable school leaders to identify trends within and across their institutions. This information can inform strategic decisions about resource allocation and factors that positively affect teacher retention.

● Aligning Professional Learning: Formative assessment data can identify specific areas needing targeted professional development. This includes supporting new teachers, clarifying misconceptions about veteran teachers, and ensuring that all educators deepen their understanding of formal curriculum expectations.

● Fostering Continuous Improvement: Formative assessment data serve as a starting point for school leaders to cultivate a culture that values the improvement cycle, which includes feedback and results. By promoting these assessments, they reinforce a mindset focused on progress rather than punishment.

“Adopting a formative assessment program in a K12 school setting can be a bold and strategic decision to transform teaching and learning.”

● Strengthening Teacher Collaboration: Formative assessment data can centralize collaboration and problem-solving efforts. Leaders who facilitate teachers working together as a learning community—reviewing data, discussing strategies, and evaluating the effectiveness of plans—engage in essential instructional leadership.

Empowering Teachers through Formative Assessment

Teachers aim to be effective today and continue improving for tomorrow. Formative assessments can be the centerpiece of instructional planning, curriculum implementation, and professional development, contributing to more effective teaching strategies for all students.

● Immediate Data: Formative assessments provide real-time insights into student understanding, allowing teachers to modify their instructions and quickly address learning gaps.

● Differentiated Instruction: These assessments help identify students who need targeted support, re-teaching, or modifications to achieve content mastery.

● Reflective Practice: Formative assessment data inspire teachers to reflect on their methods and plans, fostering the adoption of new and innovative instructional approaches.

● Active Engagement: These assessments promote learning experiences—peer reviews, group discussions, quick checks for understanding—that keep students actively engaged.

● Student-Centered Learning: Formative assessments place students at the center of their education by emphasizing learning rather than teaching.

Maximizing Student Potential Through Formative Assessment

Students benefit when their schoolwork is relevant to their experiences and future aspirations. Formative assessments play a vital role in helping students understand themselves and their learning journey.

● Personalized Learning: These assessments provide detailed insights into a student's strengths and areas that are ripe for improvement, allowing for tailored instruction to bridge learning gaps and accelerate progress.

● Active Engagement: Regular and constructive feedback from formative assessments helps students set realistic learning goals, which foster a sense of ownership, thus, encouraging intrinsic motivation for learning.

● Self-Regulated Development: Formative assessment data help students monitor their progress, adjust their study and participation habits, and build lifelong learning skills.

● Reduced Anxiety & Increased Confidence: Normalizing initial low-stake mistakes as part of the learning process boosts a growth mindset, where failing forward is embraced as a path to improvement and success.

Adopting a formative assessment program in a K12 school setting can be a bold and strategic decision to transform teaching and learning. Educational leaders, curriculum developers, assessment teams, and classroom teachers all play necessary roles in fostering a culture that celebrates continuous feedback, growth, and improvement without overemphasizing the evaluative cloud that often hovers over overtesting.

The benefits of implementing an effective formative assessment program offer improved instructional quality, increased curricular relevance, and longitudinal gains in academic achievement. As we continue to improve K-12 education, formative assessments can be the foundation for transformative change.

Weekly Brief

Read Also

Our AI Crisis isn't Technical. It's Human.

Our AI Crisis isn't Technical. It's Human.

Fatma Mili, Professor, Grand Valley State University
4 Keys to Managing Change

4 Keys to Managing Change

Sten Swenson, Director of Information Technology, North Carolina State University
Active Engagement is the Foundation of Effective Leadership

Active Engagement is the Foundation of Effective Leadership

Amber Pleasant, Program Director of Adult Education and English Language Learning, Aims Community College
Empowering Leadership through Innovation in Higher Education

Empowering Leadership through Innovation in Higher Education

Brian Fodrey, Assistant Vice President, Business Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University
The New Era of Education

The New Era of Education

Yrjö Ojasaar, Investment Partner, Change Ventures
Redefining Readiness: A Path Toward a Technology-Agnostic Future

Redefining Readiness: A Path Toward a Technology-Agnostic Future

Fatma Elshobokshy, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL), University of the District of Columbia