Fairfax County Public Schools

How might we assess the richer, deeper competencies in our Graduate Profile?

Like an increasing number of districts and states, Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia has developed a "Portrait of a Graduate" that defines a richer, deeper set of competencies that FCPS schools seek to cultivate in their students. But principals and teachers still face strong incentives to "teach to the test" at the expense of Portrait of a Graduate competencies like Collaboration and Ethical and Global Citizenship. How might FCPS and other Virginia districts use assessment for learning to bring the Portrait of a Graduate to life in learning and teaching? Fairfax County partnered with EdLeader21 and 11 other Virginia districts to answer this question. Together, the districts in this “networked improvement community” are reimagining assessment as a way to increase relevance and authenticity in learning. Student-led assessment is a process rather than a single event like a test. This process is ongoing, lasting a full academic year or more (with foundations built over several years). And every aspect of student led assessment - from daily reflection on learning, to student-led conferences, to community-engaged capstone projects - requires students to articulate and reflect on what they’re learning.

Resources

• Fairfax County Public Schools uses the 'Capstone Continuum of Student Experience' to help design high quality capstone experiences: bit.ly/CapContinuum
• The Network has created several "Improvement Packages" for schools who are adopting student-led assessment. Here is an example: Examining Capstone Design Principles
• Here is another Improvement Package, this one focused on instructional practices: Student-Developed Learning Goals Tied to Learning Targets/Standards
• Here are some sample Capstone rubrics from Oakton High School in Fairfax County: bit.ly/2OtJHOd

Prototypes & Artifacts

• Student led assessment: definition of the practices the NIC seeks to develop
• Design Principles for Student Led Assessment
• Aim statement: quantitative goal for what the NIC will accomplish
• Driver diagram: identification of change strategies
• Capstone Design Principles
• Fairfax County Portrait of a Graduate
• Portrait of a Graduate Vertical Articulation

Presentations of Learning

Blogs

• What Happens When Students Design Their Own Assessments? (EdWeek, May 24, 2017)
• 3 Ways Student-Led Assessment Improves Learning in Virginia (EdWeek, January 10, 2018)
• Following Their Lead: Some Thoughts on Student-Led Assessment (Center for Assessment, June 15, 2018)

Slide Decks

• Presentation to 2017 Race To the Top District Grantees & iNACOL 2017

Student Voices