When Assessment and Accountability Intersect, Good Things Can Happen

Abstract

A process implemented in a large teacher preparation program simultaneously addressed demands related to improving pre-service teacher assessment practices and program accountability.  The process, called Assessment Presentations, led to (a) more systematic incorporation of assessment instruction into the program's curriculum, and (b) the refinement of a program accountability measure.  As part of the Assessment Presentations, pre-service teachers gave oral presentations during which they demonstrated assessment practices and offered evidence for program accountability by including data related to P-12 student learning.  The Assessment Presentations also provided program-specific data that led to individual program revisions and a stronger overall teacher education program.  Discussion of the procedures, scoring criteria, results, and outcomes of the Assessment Presentations provides information that may be beneficial to other teacher education programs.