Teachers are responsible for the design, implementation and interpretation of student evaluation. Evaluation is a large and critical component of teacher education programs. Teachers are highly skilled and competent in evaluating student understanding and reporting progress to parents and other educational stakeholders.
Classroom teachers know their students' progress best
Classroom teachers are in the best position to develop evaluation strategies that align with the curriculum and address individual learning needs. Evaluation instruments developed by those outside of the classroom are seldom appropriate and must be adapted to suit the context of instruction. Teachers need resources and adequate time to develop, conduct and analyze student assessments.
Teachers have the professional rights and responsibilities for assessment
School and jurisdiction policies for student evaluation and assessment are increasingly encroaching on the professional rights and responsibilities of teachers to evaluate students. Teachers are responsible for determining curriculum emphases, designing instructional and learning activities, and developing and administering evaluations. Policies on student evaluation influence the instructional process and, for this reason, teachers must be involved in policy development. Policy that is determined without input from teachers undermines the integrity of both teaching and learning. Teachers are the final authority in determining whether to use achievement test results as part of their assessment of student learning.