This easy-to-read paper describes how classroom assessments can improve instruction and student learning. Projects may find it a useful resource to share with teacher leaders and teachers. Abstract: "Assessments can help improve education, but if we use them only as a means to rank-order schools and students for the purposes of accountability, we will miss their most powerful benefits. The author argues that teachers who develop classroom assessments that are useful for both students and teachers, provide high-quality corrective instruction, and give second chances to demonstrate success can improve their instruction and help students learn."

Published in Educational Leadership, February 2003