Dr. Mike Fulton provided an update on the IADA application process. The SRSN will now apply for Competitive Grants for State Assessments (CGSA) in May 2024 The purpose of Competitive Grants for State Assessments (CGSA) program is to enhance the quality of assessment instruments and assessment systems used by States for measuring the academic achievement and growth of elementary and secondary school students.

As a result of pursuing the CGSA, DESE will now apply for the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) in December 2024. The IADA provides state educational agencies (SEA’s) with the authority to establish and operate an innovative assessment system in its public schools.

The outgrowth of the GCSA and IADA processes will be a Growth-to-Mastery assessment (with accountability) system that supports every student being high school, college, career and workplace ready.

Karas Vandas provided an overview of effective practices and their actual impact on student learning and deepened understanding. This included the connections between clarity, feedback and proving learning; applying “evergreen core practices, and the overall impact clarity has for both reducing student anxiety and increasing learner efficacy by enhancing student agency.

Check out our Professional Learning web page for free recordings and content from all of the previous learning sessions. These resources are a great place to stay apprised of the work from the System Design Zone Demonstration Project Waiver. Additionally, these learning sessions can be used by district leaders as professional learning opportunities for building capacity within your districts.