D.A.T.A.: Do Assessments Tell All?

     Collecting data is important, but it does not tell the whole story.

    As you can imagine, finding topics of interest for teachers is endless. However, I would like to be writing about things my readers are interested in. So, when I asked for a topic, Data was offered. I took this as a challenge.Here you go.

    Data is an important way for schools to collect information on their student population. It is tied to funding on many levels. We collect numbers of students in schools or classrooms, attendance, student behavior, school days, etc... I am sure there is a much longer list than this. But, the kind of data that makes most teachers sigh is assessment data. 

    Again, we know that assessment data is important for understanding our students' academic proficiency as well as gaps in understanding. It can be a snapshot in time or a culmination of learning throughout the year. It can and should also "drive our instruction." However, the reality is that the system is broken and it is even more apparent when the gaps are big and the assessments remain static. What I mean by this is that the assessments are tied specifically to grade level and we have to present these tests to students when we know full well they are not at grade level in some areas of their curriculum...or any of them for that matter. This pandemic has only exacerbated the situation. There is nothing worse than administering a test to a student who, we know, cannot complete it successfully and that is sooooo disheartening! We want the kids to be successful, not feel overwhelmed and inadequate. 

    Ask any teacher and they will tell you that they know their students. In fact, I am pretty sure that most teachers can tell you more about the abilities of their students before any formal assessment is placed in front of them. And yet, if we know that our student is performing at a grade level below the one they are "physically" in, we am unable to assess them at that grade level. Instead, we test them at their grade level only to confirm what we already know....they are not at grade level! The message from administration may be to meet students where they are, but that is impossible if we are also expected to teach them their grade level curriculum. We cannot fill the gaps and move forward at the same time, and quite frankly, the kids can't do both either. The assessment tools are inflexible and creating more consternation as time progresses. 

    Hmmmm, some other things that the data collected by these assessments doesn't tell us is that the student was sick on the day they took it. That their parents are in crisis. That they are in crisis. That the online format makes that kiddo completely overwhelmed. That it was cold and rainy. That they had a fight with their sibling or parent. There are lots of things that are not taken into consideration when it comes to assessment data. I am sure I don't need to tell teachers all of this, since they are living it. But, I would be remiss if I didn't add this to the complaints about assessment data. After all, our professional performance evaluations are linked to this same testing data- regardless of how well our Principals know us and can see what work is being done in the classrooms. (They are in the same boat.)

    Needless to say, I am sure that this post does not provide "new news" to any of you. However, it is a topic that I hope you will continue to bring up to others (Principals, Superintendents, Legislators and the Agency of Education), because without hearing from the boots on the ground, decisions will be made on our behalf. For better or for worse. 

    Let's face it folks. We know that data is important to ensuring quality education in our schools. In fact, I believe that it is an integral part of keeping educators accountable, but I also think that the container in which data collection lives is too rigid and is not malleable enough to keep up with the ever changing times in which we live. 

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Side Note: (Please take with a grain of salt and sense of humor.)

Here's some other data that may not have been taken into consideration this year.

• Data Collected: Teacher sick days taken down by 85%
• Data Not Collected: THERE WERE NO SUBS AVAILABLE, so even if we wanted to take a sick or personal day....we sucked it up because we didn't want to burden our peers or administration.
• Data Collected: Hot lunch ordered by teachers up by 50%
• Data Not Collected: The amount of energy it takes a teacher to make lunch in the morning before they go to school. (It was all we could do to make sure coffee was in our to go cup and that we are at school at all! Who has it in them to make their own lunch?)
• Data Collected: Teacher outfits less professional. Jeans and leggings being worn in the classroom 60% of the week.
• Data Not Collected: Administration encourages teacher to ensure students are getting fresh air and not spreading COVID. (Well, you wanted us to be outside with the kids more and we can't do that if we are wearing our high heels and dress pants no can we?)
• Data Collected: 100% of teachers now eat either alone in their classroom or outside.    
• Data Not Collected: Teachers' social skills are declining and they are eating more junk food.(When they are not eating school lunch.)