Assessment and Diversity

Instruction and assessment strategies shift the focus from a single instructional style to a diverse set of experiences to match the unique needs of each student. By using assessment throughout the instructional sequence, teachers can respond with appropriate modifications to the needs of students with diverse languages, cultures, or learning challenges. This is why assessment strategies are an important part of any curriculum designed to meet the needs of diverse student populations.

Things to Consider:

• The primary language of the child and his or her proficiency in that language
• The child's proficiency in English
• The culture and demographics of the communities within the district
• Multiple indicators of student performance which better reflect the diversity of cultures, languages, learning styles, and challenges
• The limits of standardized tests, which contain knowledge that is common to the dominant culture and may be culturally insensitive or inappropriate for many Alaskan students.