OECD Report on Evaluation Strategies

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A new report by the OECD, “Synergies for Better Learning: An International Perspective on Evaluation and Assessment,” analyzes the differences in education evaluation strategies of teachers, students, and schools in 28 countries.

After reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches, the report concludes with six key recommendations for evaluations and assessment that may be useful for Latin American policymakers:

1. Take a comprehensive approach to ensure that different evaluations don’t overlap or conflict;
2. Align evaluations with educational goals;
3. Focus on improving classroom practices;
4. Carefully consider the high-stakes uses of results to avoid negative unintended consequences, such as teaching to the test;
5. Build consensus among stakeholders; and
6. Place students at the center of the process.