About Formative Assessment

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The Council of Chief State School Officer (CCSSO) defines formative assessment as “a process used by teachers and students during instruction that provides feedback to adjust ongoing teaching and learning to improve students’ achievement of intended instructional outcomes.” (McManus, 2008)

While summative assessment can be seen as an event, formative assessment is an ever-evolving process that provides students with feedback during the course of instruction.

Learning targets are an important part of formative assessment. Research has shown that students who are made aware of what they are trying to achieve, or their learning targets, show significant gains in learning when compared with students who have not first been made aware of their end goals. In other words, “Students can hit any target that they can see and holds still for them.” (Stiggins, Arter, Chappius & Chappius, 2004)

Align, Assess, Achieve offers tools and resources to help educators bring Formative Assessment into their classrooms.

• A Formative Assessment blog manned by our experts who are ready and waiting to answer your questions
• Access to the most current research findings on Formative Assessment
• Achievement Rings – video
• Achievement Rings ELL
• Common Core Books
• 7 Strategies
• 15 Fixes for Broken Grades

Although all of our products are designed to stand alone, we also offer in-person training on how to bring Formative Assessment into your classroom successfully.