Cal TAC Symposium Examines Assessments

November 15, 2010 |   | Contact: M. Daniel DeCillis

On October 21st, the California Teacher Advisory Council (Cal TAC) brought together teachers and educational experts from around the state to discuss assessment systems in California.

The symposium at the Sacramento Convention Center, “Working Towards an Assessment System with Value: Informing and Strengthening STEM Teaching and Learning”, focused on innovative formative assessments both in the state of California and in other states, including Oregon and Minnesota.

“The goal was for us to focus on core assessment purposes,” said Cal TAC Chair Anne Marie Bergen, teacher in residence for the College of Science and Math at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. “Processes devised to hold teachers and schools accountable for ‘learning’ are only valuable if they provide data that support improvement. The tests emphasize the accumulation of facts, instead of the application of thinking processes or problem solving necessary for today’s work force and citizens. This approach narrows the scope of learning and limits creativity of thought.”

Among other things, the participants at the symposium discussed California’s response to the Common Core State Standards, an internationally benchmarked educational framework developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) with a group that included parents, educators, content experts, researchers, national organizations and community groups from 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia.

“The next step is for the California Department of Education to bring implementation plans for the state’s Common Core strategy to the Board of Education in November; the results of this meeting are just the first step in an ongoing process to help inform this policy,” said Bergen. “The structure of the tests that our students take needs to engage them in the process of applying information to solve a problem. Testing has become the driver for education, rather than one of many tools to monitor student progress.”

Cal TAC is a group of master teachers modeled after the very successful National Teacher Advisory Council, established in 2002 by the National Academies.

Recent Posts

Watch: Lithium Supply Chains – Charging Our Future with Sustainable Sources
A graphic with title on the briefing in blue and yellow lettering with photos of the panelists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8hHNS3nZ3M Lithium Supply Chains: Charging Our Future with Sustainable Sources The degree to which the ...
How Extracurriculars Shaped my Policy Career – ’23 Fellow Stephanie Mitchell, PhD
Spending time doing any kind of outreach or advocacy is great practice in confronting cognitive biases, finding how to reframe issues, and getting comfortable meeting new people
Stephanie Mitchell, PhD, is a 2023 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow placed with the ...
Update: Application closed – Calling California Grad Students and Postdocs: Apply for CCST’s Science Translators Showcase
A flyer for the Translators Showcase featuring a white background, blue and gold text, a grid of images from the last showcase, and CCST's logo and S&T Week 2024 logo.
Apply to participate in CCST's 2024 California Science Translators Showcase. Download a flyer to distribute ...
Finance and Strategy Executive Jeffrey Scott Appointed to CCST Board of Directors
Headshot of Board member Jeff Scott in a blue button up shirt and wearing glasses.
Jeff Scott Appointed as an Independent Director, Jeff brings experience in the government, private sector, ...