Illuminate Blog

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What is Progress Monitoring?

Rachel Brown, Ph.D., NCSP February 25, 2021 Assessments, MTSS, SEB

How (and Why) to Complete a Midyear Check on Equity & Growth

Jaime Harris February 24, 2021 Assessments, Data, Equity, MTSS

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Research-Based Recommendations for Overcoming Learning Loss Due to 2020 Learning Disruptions

Jessica Rowley February 18, 2021 Assessments, Instruction, MTSS, Remote Learning, White Paper

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Tips for Writing Items for Quality Data: Lessons Learned from Reviewing Hundreds of Items

Dena White January 28, 2021 Assessments, Data, Educational Technology

Student practices reading at home

Literacy as a Social Justice Issue

Kim Gibbons, Ph.D. January 15, 2021 Assessments, Data, Equity, Instruction, Literacy, Resources

A student works at home

Assessing and Equitably Accelerating: The Power of a Comprehensive and Balanced Assessment System

Dr. Amy Jackson January 8, 2021 Assessments, Data, Equity, Uncategorized, White Paper

Student practices reading skills which have been supported by instruction grounded in the science of reading

Close Learning Gaps by Applying the Science of Reading

Martin Yan December 15, 2020 Assessments, Data, Equity, Resources

A woman analyzes winter universal screening data for her students

How to Use Winter Screening Data

Rachel Brown, Ph.D., NCSP December 8, 2020 Assessments, Data, MTSS, School Improvement

A group of teachers and administrators gather for a training.

Policy to Practice: What a New Administration May Mean for Educators

Dr. Amy Jackson November 17, 2020 Assessments, State Reporting

A brief released today by Illuminate Education reveals substantial math losses in grades 5-8 and modest reading losses across grades K-8 as a result of COVID-19 disruptions.

New Data Indicate Substantial Math & Modest Reading Learning Losses due to COVID-19

Martin Yan November 13, 2020 Assessments, Data, Educational Technology, Instruction, White Paper

Diagnostic Assessment as a Tool for Identifying Learner Needs

Rachel Brown, Ph.D., NCSP November 12, 2020 Assessments, Data, Special Education

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The Difference Between Monitoring Progress and Progress Monitoring

Rachel Brown, Ph.D., NCSP October 29, 2020 Assessments, MTSS, Professional Learning

A teacher provides a Tier 1 Intervention to students in her class.

All About Tier 1 Interventions

Rachel Brown, Ph.D., NCSP October 20, 2020 Assessments, Instruction, MTSS

A summative assessment bubble sheet

Policy to Practice: The State of State Assessments

Dr. Amy Jackson October 8, 2020 Assessments, Data, Equity, State Reporting

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What Neuroscience Tells Us About Connecting Assessment with Learning

Dr. Amy Jackson September 18, 2020 Assessments, Professional Learning

Live Proctoring in DnA - Example Image

How to Use Live Proctoring in Formative Assessment Processes with Remote Learners

Alina Gonzalez September 17, 2020 Assessments, Educational Technology, Instruction, Remote Learning

A graphic showing the types of assessment within a Comprehensive Assessment System

Understanding Different Types of Assessment

Ashley Klint September 10, 2020 Assessments, Data, MTSS

A remote learner works on a follow-up lesson after a creative instruction session

Teaching Beyond Walls: Creative Ideas for Remote Instruction

Tiffany Rudolph, M.Ed. September 4, 2020 Assessments, Instruction, Remote Learning

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The Basics of Universal Screening

Sarah Brown, Ph.D. August 28, 2020 Assessments, Instruction, MTSS, Professional Learning

Infographic to describe what MTSS is and how it can support students and educators in the coming year

6 Reasons to Lean Into MTSS This Year

Kate Pechacek August 27, 2020 Assessments, Data, MTSS, Remote Learning

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Understanding & Improving the Universal Tier

Sarah Brown, Ph.D. August 20, 2020 Assessments, Data, MTSS, Professional Learning, School Improvement

An Opportunity for Equity: How to Use Assessments and Data the Right Way When Schools Reopen

Dr. Amy Jackson August 13, 2020 Assessments, Data, Equity, Leadership, Remote Learning, School Improvement

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What is Assessment Reliability & Validity?

Dr. Ekaterina Forrester August 7, 2020 Assessments, Professional Learning

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How Can Leaders Help Teams Increase Their Assessment Literacy?

Jeremy O'Neil July 30, 2020 Assessments, Data, Leadership, PLC, Professional Learning

How to Create Strong Data Culture in Your Building: Tips from a Former Principal

Jeff Ion July 28, 2020 Assessments, Data, Educational Technology, Leadership, PLC, Professional Learning, School Improvement

Tips for Supporting Parents and Guardians in Remote Learning

JoJean Vicioso July 24, 2020 Assessments, Remote Learning

How to Curb Cheating on Remote Assessments

Kate Pechacek July 22, 2020 Assessments, Educational Technology, Remote Learning

The Power of Assessment to Close Gaps & Help Students Soar

April Beasley July 2, 2020 Assessments, Case Study, Data, Illuminator Spotlight, Leadership

Staying Connected During COVID-19 [Teacher Spotlight]: Missy Butki

Jessica Rowley June 30, 2020 Assessments, Illuminator Spotlight, Remote Learning, White Paper

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Key Ingredients for Effective Tier 1 Practices

Kate Pechacek June 26, 2020 Assessments, Instruction, MTSS

How Can MTSS Work in a Remote Environment?

Martin Yan June 23, 2020 Assessments, MTSS, Remote Learning

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The Importance of Assessing Both Standards and Skills

Kate Pechacek June 19, 2020 Assessments

Preventing Learning Loss & Accelerate Growth for All Students

Martin Yan May 29, 2020 Assessments, Leadership, Remote Learning

A Plan for Balanced Assessment: Setting a Precedent in an Unprecedented Time

Dr. Amy Jackson May 19, 2020 Assessments, Remote Learning

Using Data to Support Remote Learners with IEPs

Kristin Rockwell April 24, 2020 Assessments, Data, Remote Learning

College Admissions in an Era of School Closures

James Fleming April 22, 2020 Assessments, Equity, Remote Learning

How to Use Google for Education with Illuminate for Remote Learning

Martin Yan April 10, 2020 Assessments, Educational Technology, Instruction, Remote Learning

“Assessment as Learning” in a Remote Classroom

Kate Pechacek April 6, 2020 Assessments, Instruction, Remote Learning

COVID-19 and Assessments: Moving from “What If?” to “What Now?”

Dr. Amy Jackson March 30, 2020 Assessments, Remote Learning

Remote Screening & Progress Monitoring 101

Rachel Brown, Ph.D., NCSP March 26, 2020 Assessments, Educational Technology, Remote Learning

How Garden City Public Schools is Building an Information-Rich Comprehensive Assessment System

Natalie Howell March 12, 2020 Assessments, Case Study, Illuminator Spotlight, Leadership

Analyzing Your Assessment Data: Patterns of Need & Root Cause Analysis

Dr. Melissa Hogan February 27, 2020 Assessments, Data, Instruction

Leveraging High-Quality Custom Interims to Move the Needle on Student Outcomes

Sara Shore January 30, 2020 Assessments, Case Study, Data, Leadership

[Infographic] What’s a Comprehensive Assessment System?

Kate Pechacek November 27, 2019 Assessments, MTSS, Resources

Setting Goals That Matter for Students With Dyslexia

Rachel Brown, Ph.D., NCSP November 14, 2019 Assessments, Data, School Improvement

10 Persistent Progress Monitoring Myths Debunked

Rachel Brown, Ph.D., NCSP October 31, 2019 Assessments, Data, MTSS

How to Use Quality Assessment Content to Build Assessment and Data Literacy

Jeremy O'Neil October 11, 2019 Assessments, Data, Educational Technology, Instruction, PLC, Resources, School Improvement

Illuminator Spotlight: Hannah Goeglein

Mark Adato May 6, 2019 Assessments, Illuminator Spotlight

6 Steps to Quality Assessment Design

Sara Shore May 2, 2019 Assessments

Are Our Common Assessments Fair?

Jan Sznurkowski April 25, 2019 Assessments

The Case for Assessment Literacy: Why It’s Critical for All of Us

Chris Balow, Ph.D. January 31, 2019 Assessments, Data, Leadership

Taking Stock of Your Assessment Program

Chris Balow, Ph.D. August 23, 2018 Assessments

Writing a Continuous Standards-Story for Students

Kate Pechacek April 26, 2018 Assessments, Data, Leadership, School Improvement

9 Informal Assessments to Help You Pinpoint What Your Learners Need

Martin Yan February 8, 2018 Assessments, Resources, School Improvement

7 Methods for Measuring Student Growth

Chris Balow, Ph.D. December 14, 2017 Assessments, Data

Assessing Student Understanding Throughout the Instructional Cycle

Kathleen Ciolli October 5, 2017 Assessments

Identifying the Problem of Percentile Ranks

Chris Balow, Ph.D. August 10, 2017 Assessments, Data, Resources, School Improvement

Measuring Student Learning with Student Growth Percentiles & Student Growth Targets

Dr. Abram Jimenez June 27, 2017 Assessments, Leadership, Resources, School Improvement

Developing a Student Achievement System? Here’s How.

Doug Wells June 22, 2017 Assessments, Data, Educational Technology, Implementation, Leadership, Resources, School Improvement

The “Effect Size” in Educational Research: What is it & How to Use it?

Chris Balow, Ph.D. June 15, 2017 Assessments, Data, Resources

Setting Up a Data-Driven Culture

Mark Adato May 25, 2017 Assessments, Data, Leadership, Resources, School Improvement

Building a Blueprint Around Formative Assessment

Chris Balow, Ph.D. April 20, 2017 Assessments, Resources, School Improvement, White Paper

How to Prepare for Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Martin Yan April 13, 2017 Assessments, Leadership, Resources

5 Critical Steps to Doing Formative Assessments

Chris Balow, Ph.D. March 2, 2017 Assessments, Data, Resources, School Improvement

How to Track Progress & Growth with an Accountability Dashboard

Katie Sellstrom February 16, 2017 Assessments, Educational Technology, Implementation, Resources, School Improvement, Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

How a Low-Achieving School Uses Data to Drive Success

Dr. Abram Jimenez February 2, 2017 Assessments, Case Study, Data, Equity, Leadership, School Improvement, Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

5 Fall Tasks to Improve Scheduling Success in Spring

James Fleming November 10, 2016 Assessments, Data, Resources

Beginners Guide: A Balanced Assessment System

Chris Balow, Ph.D. November 3, 2016 Assessments, Resources

Start Gathering Social & Emotional Data Now—Here’s How

Chris Balow, Ph.D. October 27, 2016 Assessments, Data, Resources, Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

7 Can’t Miss Blogs to Jumpstart the School Year

Mike Oswalt August 11, 2016 Assessments, Case Study, Data, Educational Technology, Resources, Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Gatekeeping in Math: Dispelling the Myth of Placement & Advancement Exams

Debra Russell July 21, 2016 Assessments, Case Study, Data

Use Technology to Manage your Reading Improvement Processes

John LaPlante May 3, 2016 Assessments, Early Warning, Educational Technology, Illuminator Spotlight

Need for Better Assessment Emphasized in 2016 National Education Technology Plan

Mike Oswalt April 19, 2016 Assessments, Data, Educational Technology

Formative Assessment

Improving Student Learning: The Present and Future of Formative Assessment

Debra Russell March 4, 2016 Assessments

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Student Early Warning Systems: An Introduction and Best Practices

Chris Balow, Ph.D. February 16, 2016 Assessments, Data, Early Warning, Educational Technology