The Alabama Department of Education is using ESSER II funds to provide districts with an “Assessment Award” grant focused on grades 4-8. This grant provides districts with additional funding of $12 per student to expand early reading and math assessment systems so that district leaders can identify the academic needs of students heading into middle school years.
Schools and districts need consistent assessment data to guide instruction for learning acceleration. This is especially true for students in transition years, like middle school. The state’s investment in expanding assessment options through grade 8 will help to ensure that teachers, parents and students can access more meaningful information about where students are and how to address lost learning.
We are spotlighting this practice because regular and accurate data are an indispensable component of education recovery. The Alabama Department of Education is encouraging districts to keep their eye on the ball while providing resources to do so.
