New Mexico Innovative Assessment
COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
Innovative Assessment 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.)
“We can standardize tests but we can’t standardize children. We must seek out ways to develop our students’ unique skills and perspectives, and give them authentic choice in how they will demonstrate their learning.”Dr. Donna Navarrete, Turnaround Specialist, Cuba Independent School District
Why we need this now
The CoP is an outgrowth of PED’s Student Success Task Force which made several high-level recommendations that require a new emphasis on teaching and learning, including:
- 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.
“Any effort at lasting change should not be based on NMPED’s decisions alone, but should be rooted in local communities. We needed to seek knowledge from local community members and educators, and build from the ground up.”Dr. Gwen Warniment, Deputy Secretary for Teaching, Learning and Assessment | New Mexico Public Education Department
How it works
How to join
To join the CoP at Tier 3:
Note: The CoP has been meeting since August and is no longer accepting new members at Tiers 1 and 2
- Identify a primary contact and additional team members up to six people.
- Complete this Commitment Form.
Contact tony@futurefocusededucation.org with questions.
Calendar
Founding members
LEA Primary Contact