District 59 to pilot daily formative checks (DOLs) in grades 3–8 using Formative platform

District leaders described the planned rollout of a formative-assessment platform (Formative) designed to provide teachers with real-time exit-ticket data and enable immediate reteach in the classroom. The district will pilot the platform in grades 3–8, supplying district-created DOLs (daily objective checks) twice weekly; teachers will create their own checks on other days and have autonomy about format for in-class checks for understanding.

The assessment lead said the platform was selected after a pilot with five schools and about 30 teachers and that it provides a teacher dashboard so staff can see, immediately, which students need reteach. "This platform will really allow teachers to teach and assess and see how kids do immediately and adjust instruction immediately in the classroom that day," the assessment lead said. The rollout will be phased so teachers and students are not overwhelmed; k–2 implementation will be considered later and teachers will have flexibility for non-digital checks (whiteboards, exit tickets) where appropriate.

District staff emphasized the platform and DOLs are intended primarily as tools for classroom teachers to adjust daily instruction; principals and district staff will have access to aggregate data that can inform professional development and targeted supports. The board discussed grade-level staging and the district confirmed two district-provided DOLs per week in grades 3–8 and teacher-created checks the remaining days.