As someone who serves on a charter board here in Washington, D.C., fostering parent engagement in student success is a topic that consistently takes center stage during our discussions with the leadership team. Recently, a report from Gallup and Learning Heroes called B-flation: How Good Grades Can Sideline Parents, reinforced a concerning statistic—89% of parents believe their child is at or above grade level in reading and math. This deviates significantly from other measures including standardized test scores, which suggest that less than half of children are at grade level. Parent perception that students are doing well when they are often struggling emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive approach to communicating student achievement.
The Data Conundrum
Despite the wealth of information teachers have about student achievement, the challenge lies in effectively communicating this data to families. The Gallup-Learning Heroes report underscores that even data-rich and data-driven schools can miss the mark in translating information for families. This discrepancy arises from the fact that parents rely heavily on report card grades. Meanwhile, schools have access to diverse sources of information on student achievement, including in-class assignments, tests, observations, and standardized exams. Integrating these various data points is crucial for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of whether a child is performing at their grade level.
Recognizing the Discrepancy
Understanding whether a child is ‘at grade level’ is a pivotal factor in supporting their academic journey. Parents who recognize that their child is not performing at grade level can take proactive measures to advocate for their child’s learning and provide additional support at home. The challenge, however, lies in bridging the gap between what teachers know and what parents think about student achievement.
The Role of CenterPoint
This is where the work at CenterPoint comes into play. Alongside providing high-quality assessments, our team is committed to offering expert professional learning opportunities to catalyze teacher practice. Looking ahead, we will continue to expand our resources and support for teachers, focusing specifically on enhancing their ability to engage in meaningful assessment and data conversations with both families and students. Our goal is to equip teachers with actionable insights that can be seamlessly communicated to students’ support systems.
Empowering Teachers for Effective Communication
CenterPoint recognizes the need for ongoing professional development. We provide teachers with the tools and skills necessary to engage in constructive conversations with families and students. By fostering a collaborative environment, we aim to facilitate a more transparent exchange of information, ensuring that parents are well-informed about their child’s academic progress. This process also has the potential to create a more supportive learning environment and strengthen the student-teacher relationship as they develop a plan together for improving the student’s outcomes.
As we continue our journey at CenterPoint, our commitment to empowering teachers with the skills to bridge the gap between data and understanding remains unwavering. By doing so, we aim to create a holistic support system that nurtures the academic success of every student in our care.
By Margaret Horn
Success. Every student. Every teacher.
This is Part 5 of the CenterPoint series on Interim Assessment Best Practices.
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