Communicating with Families, Educators, and Policymakers

This article provides a short overview of how to communicate about the purposes of educational assessments. The authors address the assessments that may be required at the state or district level, including summative assessments, interim assessments, and formative assessment practices. The article describes the needs of various audiences and the implications of those audience needs when talking with each of them about assessments. The authors conclude by describing communication strategies and how they might be used to communicate about statewide and districtwide assessments.