Assessment

At Branford Public Schools, communication with families about how student learning is monitored and supported is a key priority. It is important that parents understand the various methods used to assess student achievement and progress, including the purpose, timing, and types of assessments administered. The District is committed to providing clear information about how students are progressing toward grade-level expectations and how their growth is measured throughout the school year.

Teachers in Branford use a variety of assessments across the academic year, including formative, summative, and benchmark assessments.

Formative Assessments: Ongoing checks for understanding during instruction

Formative assessments take place during instruction and help teachers gather real-time information about student understanding. These assessments not only guide instructional decisions and help adjust teaching to better meet student needs, but also provide students with timely feedback on their progress toward specific learning targets. Examples of formative assessments include teacher ob

Summative Assessments: Evaluations at the end of a unit or course

Universal Screening: Benchmark assessment to measure student growth

Branford Public Schools conducts universal screening three times a year for students in grades K-8, using the AimswebPlus assessment suite. These standardized assessments measure both literacy and math performance. The results are nationally normed, meaning student performance is compared to that of peers across the country. This allows educators to compare Branford student growth to typical progress.

The data from these assessments inform instructional decisions at multiple levels:

Individual: Helps identify student strengths and areas for growth.
Classroom: Assists in identifying students who may need intervention, enrichment, or additional instruction.
Schoolwide: Assists in identifying needs and allocating resources effectively.
Districtwide: Assists in evaluating the overall effectiveness of our core curriculum.

Our goal is to support every child in growing academically, socially, and emotionally. We strive to keep parents informed about how progress is measured and how they can partner with us to reinforce learning at home.