Empowering Students and Educators Through Student-Driven Assessment

The Challenge: Why Change Was Needed

SAU-16 sought to deepen its commitment to competency-based education (CBE) by making assessment a meaningful and empowering process for students. Traditional grading systems often left students as passive recipients of scores rather than active participants in their learning. Educators recognized a need for students to develop agency over their learning by setting goals, reflecting on progress, and leading conversations about their achievements. 

SAU16 had adopted a new assessment policy to support more student-centered grading practices. A key challenge was ensuring that both elementary and secondary educators were equipped to carry out the new policy with aligned practices so students could engage in student-driven assessments in a way that was developmentally appropriate and meaningful. Educators needed support in shifting their practices, developing new structures, and gaining confidence in facilitating student-driven assessment.