FIX 14

In other words, it takes Amy and Colleen a day or two to completely master a concept, and each of their 3 assessments reflect this. Steven, however, struggles on his first two assessments, but by the third, has clearly mastered the concept. According to Fix 14, their level of achievement is the same.

FPS Staff Commentary

Steven Kopenen - Warner Middle School

Colleen and I have offered reassessments the past couple of years to students. Students and parents have sometimes had issues when we said that their new "score" would replace the old one. Some wanted the scores averages and others thought we should take the highest score. But does either practice, an average or the best score, accurately reflect the achievement level of a child? Yes, it does turn off some students to take reassessments, but it ensures that students who are willing to take the chance are also willing to work to correct what didn't work. It has helped to talk with apprehensive students: "Yes, there is a chance that your score will go down, but I know that you will work through the issues you had, and I haven't had many students who worked through their issues and worked hard and whose score didn't go up." You'll be able to tell the kids who are really wanting to demonstrate mastery and those just looking for a better grade.