Assessment

Mastery-Based Assessment Builds Accountability

How you can help students take responsibility and meet high expectations by providing the right tools and support along the way.

October 31, 2012

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Photo credit: Zachary Fink
Project-based learning help students at MC<sup>2</sup> STEM High School meet the school's rigorous requirements for reaching mastery in order to receive credit.

MC2 (Metropolitan Cleveland Consortium) STEM High School is a year-round public school in Cleveland, Ohio, where instruction is through interdisciplinary project-based learning, and the focus is on providing students with an integrated curriculum that is informed by real-world experiences.

The school uses a mastery system for assessment (PDF) in grades nine and ten in lieu of the traditional A-F system. This means that students must demonstrate competency at 90 percent or better in order to receive an "M" for mastery on any given benchmark task, and they must achieve mastery in order to receive credit. In setting such a high bar, the system clearly defines expectations and demands top academic performance. However, in requiring that all students meet this bar, it also communicates that the administration believes every student is capable of reaching this standard, and it obligates the school to provide the tools and support for students to succeed.

The school has multiple structures in place to ensure that students can meet the requirements, including trained volunteer tutors from NASA, General Electric Lighting, and local teaching colleges, as well as differentiated instruction (PDF) from the teachers. In math teacher Catherine Staveteig's class, this means that she uses a combination of group projects, individualized learning -- which can include online exercises -- small group sessions, and one-on-one instruction. At the end of each quarter, she has "recovery time," when she may provide alternative assignments to give students different ways to learn and demonstrate their mastery and thereby obtain credits they didn't earn before.

One of the core operating principles at MC2 STEM (PDF) is "Master your own path." The mastery assessment system helps to inculcate this principle because students are expected to take responsibility for meeting the school's expectations. Rubrics are transparent to the students so that they know exactly what is required of them. Teachers provide the instructional support students need and make themselves available for additional help, but students are expected to know their own status and be proactive about seeking what they need, whether from teachers, tutors, or fellow students. As senior Timothy Hatfield explains, "With the mastery system, I am held accountable to do that work and get it turned in."

These kinds of high expectations, along with adequate support structures in place, have been shown to be some of the most impactful strategies for improving academic achievement. You can read more about the research supporting this approach, as well as other strategies in practice at MC2 STEM, in our research summary.

Resources from MC2 STEM

School Snapshot

Mc2 Stem High School

Grades 9-12 | Cleveland , OH
Enrollment
270 | Public, Urban
Per Pupil Expenditures
$10406 School$15072 District$10571 State
Free / Reduced Lunch
100%
DEMOGRAPHICS:
74% Black
16% White
8% Hispanic
1% Asian/Pacific Islander
1% Native American

12% individualized education programs
2% English-language learners

Data is from the 2010-2011 academic year.


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Five tips for mastery-based assessment:

  1. Provide clear expectations for students of what is required to achieve mastery, including rubrics with specific tasks.
  2. Provide frequent feedback so students know what areas they need to work on.
  3. Hold students accountable for knowing what skills they must master and for seeking out additional help.
  4. Make additional support such as tutoring, small group sessions, or online exercises easily accessible to students.
  5. Allow multiple ways for students to demonstrate mastery.

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Filed Under

  • Assessment
  • College Readiness
  • Teaching Strategies
  • 9-12 High School

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