Technology Assessment Systems

Assessing the knowledge and skills of leaders and students is very important, because it helps schools identify areas of weakness.  This can help schools focus their improvement efforts on the areas that are in the most need.

I do not think that the current assessment systems are the most effective way to help schools.  The STaR chart is filled out by campus leaders.  The results can be skewed by biased leaders.  If a leader does not place a high priority on technology integration, then the STaR chart could have a higher score, because the person filling it out thinks that things are good enough.  If the leader places a high value on technology integration and is frustrated by the slow progress, then they may put lower scores on the STaR chart even though their school may actually be progressing well.  Even leaders that try to fill out the chart based on how well the school is progressing with its own technology plan can get inaccurate results.  The school may have an overambitious plan that can leave a leader thinking that their school is not making adequate progress.

I think our state has done a good job at trying to get everyone to follow a specific set of standards, but the assessment system needs to be revamped.  If the system were working properly, then you should see a steady improvement in STaR chart reports for individual campuses.  The STaR chart for my school shows very little improvement in the last three years.  It even shows some areas where the scores have decreased.  I know that steps are being taken to improve technology integration, but there has been a change in administration.   I think the change in leadership may have more to do with the lack of improvement in the STaR chart rather than the lack of progress.

References

Texas Campus STaR Chart Summary. (2009, April 1). Website:  http://starchart2.epsile
n.com/campusSearchlist.aspx?foryear=20082009&district=Crosby&campus=Drew%20Intermediate

Texas Campus STaR Chart Summary. (2010, March 10). Website:  http://starchart2.ep
silen.com/campusSearchlist.aspx?foryear=20092010&district=Crosby&campus=Drew%20Intermediate

Texas Campus STaR Chart Summary. (2010, November 18). Website: http://starchart
2.epsilen.com/campusSearchlist.aspx?foryear=20102011&district=Crosby&campus=Drew%20Intermediate