System Level Performance Assessments

Performance assessments—like defenses of learning, student-led conferences, and exhibitions—are powerful opportunities for students to reflect, showcase their growth, and engage in meaningful, real-world learning. We help districts design systems that collect meaningful evidence of learning, track growth over time, and create opportunities for students to share their work with others. These assessments go beyond traditional testing by focusing on real-world skills, building student ownership, and supporting everyday instruction. Together, we can create a system that celebrates progress, guides teaching, and ensures every student’s growth is seen and supported.

Designing Systems that Capture Evidence of Authentic Learning and Reflection

How can we systematically measure the competencies our Portrait of a Learner promises — from kindergarten through graduation?

Your Portrait of a Learner sets a bold vision, but how do you know if all students are developing those competencies over time? We help districts design performance assessment systems that capture evidence of authentic learning, reflection, and growth, ensuring that what you value most is measured, monitored, and celebrated across K-12.

Establishing Meaningful Defenses of Learning, Student-Led Conferences, and Exhibitions of Learning

How might we design a system where students regularly share, reflect on, and present their learning to authentic audiences?

When students share their work with real audiences, learning becomes more meaningful and memorable. Together, we’ll help you establish defenses of learning, student-led conferences, exhibitions of learning, and other structures that give students regular opportunities to reflect, revise, and present. These public moments of learning reinforce both academic and Portrait competencies, while deepening student ownership.

Creating Systems for Collecting Evidence of Learning and Tracking Learner Progress

How can a system-wide approach to performance assessment strengthen Tier 1 instruction?

Performance assessments shouldn’t live in isolation — they should shape and enrich daily instruction. By creating clear structures for collecting evidence of learning, tracking learner progress, and making student work central to professional learning, we help systems align Tier 1 teaching with the vibrant learning your Portrait envisions. Performance assessments become both a mirror reflecting what students know and can do, and a compass guiding teachers toward more engaging, rigorous instruction.