Formative Assessment for Students and Teachers (FAST)
Since 2006, the Formative Assessment for Students (FAST) SCASS has expanded the implementation of formative assessment in classrooms to positively impact teaching and learning. The FAST SCASS develops materials and resources to support the implementation of formative assessment and advocacy nation-wide, most recently a white paper on the significance of formative assessment in achieving college- and career-ready standards, and a paper to guide policymakers on the effective implementation of formative assessment. The FAST SCASS work has been strongly grounded in research on formative assessment practices, and has been consistently guided by prominent experts in the field.
In 2015-2016 the FAST SCASS, with funding from the Hewlett Foundation, plans to conduct a validity study of a formative assessment observation tool for peer-coaching and teacher self-evaluation, which was developed for the FAST SCASS by ETS. The Hewlett funding will also support small grants for member states that make a successful application to the membership review panel for implementation of the observation tool, or for the development of other resources that could benefit the entire membership. In addition, the Hewlett Foundation has provided funds for an additional two-day meeting, tentatively planned for April 2016, where FAST SCASS members will engage in deep learning about formative assessment with a team of international experts in the field.
In 2015-2016 the FAST SCASS will continue its collaboration with the ASES SCASS in developing resources related to formative assessment for students with disabilities, including video clips highlighting certain formative assessment practices in action.
Advisor: Margaret Heritage
Margaret Heritage, from the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing (CRESST) at UCLA, is an internationally recognized expert on formative assessment. She has written three books and numerous papers on formative assessment, and has made presentations on the topic all over the U.S, in Europe, India and Australia.
2014-15 Business Partners: ACT, Amplify, CTB/McGraw-Hill, ETS, Interactive Achievement, Michigan Assessment Consortium, NEA, Northwest Evaluation Association, Pearson, Renaissance Learning, SRI, and Three Ring
2014-15 Affiliates Member: WIDA
- ProgramNational Conference on Student Assessment (NCSA)
- ProgramEarly Childhood Education Assessment (ECEA)
- ProgramEnglish Language Development Assessment (ELDA)
- ProgramEnglish Language Learners (ELL)
- ProgramSocial Studies Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction (SSACI)
- ProgramTechnical Issues in Large Scale Assessment (TILSA)
- PublicationAlignment and the States: Three Approaches to Aligning the National Assessment of Educational Progress with State Assessments, Other Assessments, and Standards
- PublicationLessons Learned: Implementing and Improving Comprehensive and Balanced Learning and Assessment Systems in High School - A Report for State Education Leaders - Final Report from the Delaware Enhanced Assessment Grant