In response to member district requests, the collaborative will lead district teams in building DDMs in the arts, one of five areas required for piloting this academic year. Here’s the project description:

In teams comprised of teachers, department chairs, and curriculum directors, districts create assessments of student growth in music, visual arts, dance, or theater that measure the skills and knowledge that teachers care most about. Collaborative trainers share background material about the purpose, required components, and benefits of implementing district-determined measures of student growth. By accessing high quality work already accomplished in Colorado, Connecticut, and Tennessee, trainers will lead teams to the discovery of existing assessments rather than building new ones from step one. And trainers will lead teams to create scoring practices that deliver the information teachers need to improve their instruction and raise student outcomes.

Dates and registration information will be available soon.

And DESE will return to Holyoke High School on September 19 to present information about implementing DDMs, showcase promising projects, and provide support. You can register for this event here and direct questions to Astrude Octavius at AOctavius@doe.mass.edu.