CAREI, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) through the Wisconsin-Minnesota Comprehensive Center – Region 10 (WMCC10) is producing a series of rapid briefs to provide succinct and timely guidance on best practices for K-12 schools and school-based early learning programs regarding assessments of student learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rapid Brief #1 synthesizes guidance from the MDE and existing guidance offered by professional educational associations, assessment/test vendors, state departments of education, and educational organizations (see reference list). This brief is intended for instructional and school/program leaders (including but not limited to principals, curriculum directors, instructional coaches, assessment coordinators, early learning coordinators, and special education administrators).

In this brief, you’ll find information on:

• The purpose and role of assessments,
• Assessment best practices pertaining to classroom assessments, standardized assessments, data-based decision making, family collaboration and,
• Considerations for early learning assessments.