You need to know where you stand before you can plan for where you’re going. Continuous assessment is a necessary part of any ongoing improvement effort, because inevitably corrections to the original plan will need to be made along the way. This is as true for SMT programs as for any other. In recent years, federal policies have required regular testing in order to ensure that standards are being met. But assessment has to go beyond high-stakes testing. It needs to occur more often than that, in a variety of guises, and custom-fit to the standards your district has set.

Board members need to pay careful attention to assessment measures to determine the district’s needs in SMT programs. This will help you avoid creating redundant programs and ensure that your attention is where it is most needed.