What is a Formative Assessment?

A piece of paper cannot assess. An assessment becomes formative when the information from that assessment is responded to. When a teacher uses the information from an assessment to impact instruction it becomes a formative assessment.

When a teacher uses the information from an assessment to impact instruction it becomes a formative assessment.

If the goal is to collect the data, with the understanding that the data is for compliance or someone else’s purposes, then these are not formative assessments. Our company values assessments administered by teachers or another educator, such as an interventionist, working directly with the student. We also value teacher-scored assessments: when teachers look at student work they better understand their students and can effectively respond.

Formative assessment often drives the minute-by-minute decision making that teachers do all day long, but it should also be a part of their deliberative planning process. Forefront users have access to the results of students over time. Take time to look at historical student performance information and consider how that might influence pacing, planning, delivery, and supports. 

Just as a piece of paper is not formative, assessment data alone will not change student learning outcomes. Only educators can truly impact student outcomes.

Are you a returning Forefront user? Take a minute to consult our data discussion protocol to help guide your work at the beginning of this new school year.