Parallel Assessments
Parallel Assessment is the "in-school" adaptation of the demanding standards approach to assessment outside of school.
Parallel Assessment - multiple, equally focused and leveled assessment instruments developed to facilitate repeated assessment of performance, product, or process following successive improvement efforts until standards are met.
Parallel assessments are multiple forms of a classroom assessment that assess exactly the same learning objectives at the same level of difficulty in a mastery learning approach. With multiple, parallel versions of assessments, instructors can make the learning non-negotiable by being flexible with the time it takes for students of varying ability levels to reach each learning objective. Because students learn at different rates, parallel assessments are ideal for holding all students accountable for their learning. If, after taking the assessment, the students show they have not yet met one or more of the learning objectives, the instructor may then involve the student in further instruction and coaching until all the learning objectives are mastered. With parallel assessments, the objectives remain constant. What varies is the amount of time students may take in reaching mastery. Research shows that parallel assessments have a profound positive impact on student achievement.
*from Teaching for Excellence™ manual p.10-15&16
