Balanced Assessment System

What is a Balanced Assessment System?

A Balanced Assessment System (BAS) consists of multiple assessments and data sources to help educators understand different perspectives of student achievement. It is critical that each school has its own, unique BAS that incorporates the assessments that are most pertinent for the school community, ideally drawing from district-supported assessments. A BAS has the fewest assessments possible, each with a clearly defined and understood purpose. A balanced assessment system allows a school to gather data from specific assessments that can be used to evaluate educational programs and practices, and make informed decisions related to curriculum and instruction, professional development, and the allocation of resources to better meet students’ needs.

BPS has made investments to build a balanced assessment system that meets the varying needs of all students and educators throughout our diverse district. BPS has embarked on a multi-year initiative to expand, codify, and refine our assessment system to ensure it provides each school and student access to data sources that ultimately improve student outcomes.

Using the resources below, school leaders and Instructional Leadership Teams will be able to develop a school-specific BAS and communicate their rationale behind this system to all school community stakeholders.