Assessment Policy

Philosophy

Ybarra Academy of the Arts and Technology is grounded in the belief that assessment serves as a tool for the whole child, focusing not only on academic achievement but also nurturing students’ social, emotional, and physical well-being. We believe in utilizing a variety of assessment methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of student progress. Assessment practices are continually refined to ensure their effectiveness in supporting student learning and growth. 

Ybarra prioritizes assessment as a continuous process that provides feedback to guide and support learning.  We have a strong emphasis on formative assessment that is integral to the teaching and learning cycle. Assessment  is infused as part of everyday life in the inquiry classroom. Assessments are integrated throughout the units of inquiry. By doing so, feedback is  provided to students, helping them understand their progress and areas of improvement. We believe assessment should build a shared culture of learning, progress, and accountability.

Ybarra aims to cultivate agency and autonomy in students, empowering them to take ownership of their learning and progress. Ybarra believes in providing opportunities for student voice and choice, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding and express their ideas in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them. 

Parents/guardians are also seen as partners of their students' education. Collaboration and communication are an integral part of our assessment beliefs. Families are kept informed about their student’s progress and encouraged to support their learning at home.

Purpose

Assessment serves various purposes to enhance student learning in accordance with the California state standards. One purpose is to monitor progress over time, tracking growth in knowledge, as well as skills and understanding across subject areas and transdisciplinary themes. Another is to guide teachers in planning and adapting instruction to meet the diverse needs of our students. Assessment also helps us differentiate instruction to accommodate different learning styles and abilities. It encourages students to reflect on their learning, identify strengths and areas of growth, and set goals for improvement and higher level challenges. Lastly, assessments provide opportunities for students to demonstrate mastery of concepts, skills, and attitudes by showcasing their learning through a variety of ways and communicating those with parents and families.  

Assessment Criteria

Ybarra strives to provide a balanced education for all students where objectives and outcomes align with the PYP curriculum framework and reflect the knowledge, concepts, skills, traits, and actions students are working towards developing.

Knowledge - understanding of content/standards

Concepts - understanding of key conceptual ideas and connections

Skills - development of thinking, researching, self-management, communication, and social skills

Traits - demonstrating IB Profile traits

Action - ability to take responsible action as a result of learning 

Documenting

Documenting student learning is essential for tracking progress, informing instruction, and providing evidence of achievements. Teachers use journals, photographs, videos, written records, progress reports, report cards, digital tools, and Data Management Systems (STAR, AERIES, Illuminate, etc.) to document student learning. The most effective way we have found to collect evidence is through the use of portfolios. Portfolios are used to validate growth, successes, creativity, and reflection. Each TK-6th grade student at Ybarra Academy will compile a portfolio that showcases their learning journey. These may include samples of work, reflections, self-assessments, feedback, action projects, or digital artifacts. The portfolio serves as a reflective record of their learning journey, showing progress of students’ understanding and achievements. 

Reporting and Recording

At Ybarra Academy of the Arts & Technology, we believe in keeping all stakeholders informed regarding student progress, achievements, and areas of growth. Expectations of reporting and recording are explained through presentations at Back to School Night, School Site Council, and Parent Teacher Student Association (P.T.S.A.) meetings. Once a year, the district’s IB schools present progress and results to the Rowland Unified School District Board of Education. 

Clear and transparent reporting ensures that all stakeholders are informed on what students know, understand, and the implementation of the approaches to learning. At Ybarra Academy, our goal is to conduct effective reporting that:

• Involves the entire learning community

• Allows teachers to use what they learn to drive future instruction

• Enables teachers to provide timely and meaningful feedback to students and families on student learning outcomes

• Fosters family engagement and involvement in students’ education

• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement for student growth

• Is equitable and inclusive

In addition, student-led conferences are a key component of Ybarra’s assessment policy. This is a way for students to take ownership and accountability of their learning and actively engage in the assessment process. Student-led conferences allow students to reflect on their learning, set goals, revise their action plan, and communicate their progress and achievements to their families and teacher. During this time, students will lead the discussion and present their portfolios, work samples, reflections, and evidence of their learning. 

Communicating the Assessment Policy

The Assessment Policy is communicated to the school community in various ways, including the official school website, Ybarra’s IB website, School Site Council meetings, Coffee with the Principal meetings, Back to School Night, and ELAC meetings.  It is at these various meetings that the school community members are invited to attend as well as to reflect upon and give feedback on the policy. 

Assessment Review

This policy is integrated into the curriculum and will be reviewed annually as a staff. It can be found on the Ybarra Academy Website.