INNOVATIVE ASSESSMENT COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
What is this Community of Practice?
Future Focused Education is facilitating the New Mexico Innovative Assessment Community of Practice (CoP) in partnership with the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED). The CoP is a community of educators and leaders from school districts and charter schools across New Mexico engaged in collective learning about innovative assessment models that are project-based, culturally and linguistically responsive, and reflective of local practices.
Together we are defining and piloting a new project-based graduation pathway that culminates with senior exhibitions to demonstrate learning, as an alternative to graduation options that require traditional testing. This option will be made available statewide for Graduation Cohort 2022.
The CoP began in early 2020 with 14 founding members. More LEAs (districts and charter schools) have joined for the 2020-21 school year, and others are still welcome to join at Participation Tier 3. (Tiers 1 and 2 have closed for the school year.)
WHY WE NEED THIS NOW
- Ensure assessment practices are culturally responsive
- Involve New Mexico educators in the process
- Pursue other innovative practices that measure student learning (e.g. performance-based assessments)
In order to get to a place of culturally and linguistically sustainable teaching practices, our work needs to be rooted in building on the assets students bring with them. If this new system is to be accessible to all kids, we need to grow our multiple student pathways to demonstrate their college and career readiness. A new graduation pathway built on innovative assessments that culminate in senior exhibitions is one step toward a more equitable and balanced assessment system in New Mexico.
As we re-imagine assessment in New Mexico, educators should lead the way. Empowering educators to co-create change while providing support and building their capacity are cornerstones of any high-quality initiative in our schools. The CoP will engage educators in learning from one another, reflecting on their own practice, and connecting with local and national expertise as we work together to define and pilot a new project-based graduation pathway for the state.
How it works
LEAs join the CoP at one of three participation tiers:
How to join
Applications for membership are currently closed. Please check back when applications reopen in the fall.
Contact tony@futurefocusededucation.org with questions.
Calendar
Founding Members
LEA Primary Contact
Resources
- Remodeling Our System of Assessments in New Mexico - Future Focused Education, 2018
- Central New Mexico Graduate Profile and User Guide - Mission: Graduate, 2017
- Portfolio and Capstone Guidebook - Colorado Dept of Education, 2014
- New Mexico State Assessment System: Recommendations - NM Student Success Task Force and Center for Assessment, 2019
- Local Demonstrations of Competency ← examples of local demonstrations from LEAs
- FFE LDC Resources ← tips and a rubric for taking a competency based approach
- Remote Learning Could be a Good Time for a Capstone Project - Getting Smart
- Virtual Portfolio Defense Toolkit from What Teachers in China Have Learned in the Past Month - Envision Learning
- Virtual Defense Webinar Recording - Envisions
- Capstone for Transition Planning - Future Focused Education
- Without the Big Standardized Test - Forbes
Check back for additional resources as we learn together.