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Board adopts resolution to form assessment review committee, limits use of district assessments in educator evaluation
Summary
The board approved a substitute resolution directing formation of a committee with equal representation of district, union and parents to review district-mandated assessments, to recommend mandatory assessments and to advise on alignment and compliance; the resolution precludes use of assessment data for educator evaluation.
The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education on Dec. 12 approved a substitute resolution directing the formation of a district–union–parent committee to review district-mandated assessments and recommend which assessments should be required.
Commissioner Mark Sanchez and Commissioner Savan Cook introduced the substitute resolution (Resolution 175-23-a1), noting the district has used a series of interim assessments that were not created with parent, teacher or site-administrator input. "For the past decade, the San Francisco Unified School District has employed a battery of interim, non-state or federally mandated assessments ... chosen and mandated with no parent, teacher, or site administration input," the motion text reads.
The resolution instructs the district and UESF to form a committee in spring 2018 with equal representation of district staff, union members and parent/guardian representatives appointed by mutual agreement to explore formative-assessment alternatives and recommend which assessments should be mandatory. The resolution further states that assessment data "should not be directly or indirectly utilized by SFUSD to evaluate educator performance" and that existing district-mandated assessments will remain in place through the 2017–18 school year while the committee meets.
Public comment included thanks for parent involvement and requests for clarifying language. Parent Alita Fisher urged that the committee be required to consider legal compliance as an explicit criterion and asked that current assessments continue until the committee completes its work.
The board discussed outreach and compromises made in curriculum committee and approved the substitute resolution by roll call (6 ayes). Members said the measure reflects an inclusive process and seeks to reduce testing time while preserving data to inform instruction.
What the resolution does: It creates a time-limited, jointly staffed assessment committee to review district assessments and recommend which should be mandatory; it directs that assessment results not be used to evaluate educator performance; and it allows current assessments to remain until the committee completes its work.
Next steps: The committee is to convene in spring 2018 and report back to the board before the close of the 2017–18 school year.
