Parent Support for Assessments Grows When K-12 Leaders Show How Data Helps Schools and Students
25 June 2024 - 8:00PM
A new poll paints a clear picture that parents strongly
support the use of statewide summative assessments to measure
student progress, yet too few K-12 leaders are clearly sharing how
results are used to drive interventions and resources in schools.
Two years ago, an EdTrust analysis found a
pervasive and harmful disconnect between policymakers and parents:
School leaders stated that they used assessment data to make
critical decisions about how resources were distributed amongst and
within schools, but families were often in the dark about how
assessment results helped target supports and programs for the
students most in need.
EdTrust, in partnership with the Collaborative for
Student Success, set out to bridge this disconnect through a
qualitative study of district leaders across the country. The
results of that study were used by the National Parents Union to
survey 1,518 parents in early May to better understand how parents
perceive the use of assessment data in schools.
The response was loud and clear. Across
demographics and political ideology, parents overwhelmingly support
the use of assessment data to drive resources to the schools and
students with the greatest need.
“Parents and educators deserve to know how
statewide tests are improving education for their children. Without
clear examples of how leaders use the results on behalf of schools
and kids, assessments can seem like a burden, instead of a critical
tool. We set out to correct that misperception,” said Jim Cowen,
executive director of the Collaborative for Student Success. “We
are encouraged to see strong support for statewide assessments –
more than 75% of parents across the ideological spectrum value
assessments to measure academic performance – parents clearly want
to see this data used to inform resource allocation decisions.”
More than eight in 10 parents agree that
assessment data should drive actions that help students, including
ensuring educators receive necessary professional learning (89%),
establishing additional programming like after-school tutoring
(88%), and providing wraparound services like food assistance for
students in poverty (86%).
“Parents and caregivers want to understand the
information provided from statewide assessments to know how their
schools are faring and how this data is being used to guide school
leaders' decisions that support their children’s academic growth,
but unfortunately, too many parents are left in the dark about how
these decisions are made,” said EdTrust's president and CEO, Denise
Forte. “This research shows why it is important that school and
district leaders actively and authentically engage with parents and
caregivers. When they do so, communities can better
understand what’s most effective in accelerating student
learning, where there’s room for improvement, and how to work in
partnership with schools.”
Over two-thirds of parents were very likely to
engage with their child’s school about the use of data through
various strategies including completing surveys (82%), attending
monthly meetings (69%), and joining parent advisory councils
(64%).
“Parents have shown a strong desire for assessment
data to be actionable,” said Keri Rodrigues, president of the
National Parents Union. “Even among parents who are unsure of the
value of statewide assessments, when they know how the data is
being used to give resources to struggling students, the value
grows by nearly two-thirds.”
The data about parents’ beliefs was included in a
larger poll released by the National Parents Union on June 13.
Results of that poll can be found here.
EdTrust will release the qualitative study results
later this fall.
About the Collaborative for Student
SuccessAt our core, we believe leaders at all levels have a
role to play in ensuring success for K-12 students. From ensuring
schools and teachers are equipped with the best materials to
spotlighting the innovative and bold ways federal recovery dollars
are being used to drive needed changes, the Collaborative for
Student Success aims to inform and amplify policies making a
difference for students and families.
To recover from the most disruptive event in the
history of American public schools, states and districts are
leveraging unprecedented resources to make sure classrooms are safe
for learning, providing students and teachers with the high-quality
instructional materials they deserve, and are rethinking how best
to measure learning so supports are targeted where they’re needed
most.
About EdTrustEdTrust is committed to
advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and
economic barriers embedded in the American education system.
Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust improves equity in
education from preschool through college, engages diverse
communities dedicated to education equity and justice, and
increases the political and public will to build an education
system where students will thrive.
About National Parents UnionWith nearly
1,500 affiliated parent organizations in all 50 states, Washington,
D.C. and Puerto Rico, the National Parents Union is the united,
independent voice of modern American families. We channel the power
of parents into powerful policies that improve the lives of
children, families and communities across the United
States. https://nationalparentsunion.org/
Josh Parrish
Collaborative for Student Success
jparrish@forstudentsuccess.org