Our goal is to develop systems that not only hold schools accountable but also stop punitive actions that disproportionately penalize under-resourced schools and communities, perpetuating inequities rather than addressing them.

This work is not about discarding assessments but reimagining their purpose and potential. We believe that assessment and systems can ensure that every student has equitable opportunities to thrive in school and beyond.

In phase two, we're not only hosting convenings for educators, students, and caregivers, but we're breaking down the participation barriers by hosting our convenings on weekends and providing transportation, housing, and food to create a comfortable, engaging environment. We also invited policymakers, elected officials, and researchers to discuss their experiences navigating these systems.

Our first of three convenings, Broadenings Perspectives from California: Shaping the Future of Assessment and Accountability, was held on Saturday, April 27, in Culver City.

"I think California has taken a unique approach, a more measured approach to how we support struggling schools, but ultimately, to actually move a school takes much more than is what articulated in the federal law, and it takes resources, which is not really spoken to," said Kelly Gonez, Board Member, Los Angeles Unified School District.

Over the course of the day, students, parents, school leaders, and policy advocates touched on tangible resources not addressed in federal law: community input on assessments and how our school prepares students to thrive. During a set of facilitated and moderated breakout sessions, we could hear from them directly.

Luisa Sanchez and Patrick Graboviy joined the convening from Kentucky to provide their perspectives on the current state of assessments and accountability. Both underscored the importance of giving space for feedback from students when building accountability systems that work.

"It really does take a village to raise a child and students," said Luisa Sanchez. "And it takes really knowing student voice and listening to teachers and staff members on what they have to say to make sure that the legislation reflects those needs."

"It's important that students are involved in this kind of work because, at the end of the day, we are the result of this work, and we need to be able to be involved in that process," said Patrick Graboviy. "Those decisions are impacting us, and we have a voice that can be instrumental in progress within the country.

Maria Daisy Ortiz of the Parent Organization Network was eager to collaborate with fellow attendees to learn how she could make a difference in assessment and accountability systems back home.

"We need an accountability system to work for our children to succeed academically. This impacted and motivated me to come today," said Ortiz. "I'm here as a parent because we need results so our children can succeed."

During a panel discussion with a group of educators, Michael Matsuda, Superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District, underscored the need for assessments to reflect the whole child's needs and what his district is doing to make a difference.

"We've begun shifting beyond test scores. Even though we take the traditional SA test, we do not teach the test in our district," said Matsuda. "We teach the whole child with the five Cs, which we call the five Cs: collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, and public. The most important thing is compassion, which begins with self-compassion."

Yolande Beckles, Parent Organization Network President of the National Association of African American Parents and Youth, reiterated the need for districts to focus their resources on professional development so that educators can have the biggest impact on students in the classroom.

"We want teachers prepared to teach our children in a way that they become engaged because they want to learn them from the moment you bring a concept into the classroom and our children come alive," said Beckles. "That's the education system I'm fighting for in America."

Resources

• Findings from Phase One of Broadening Perspectives
• UnidosUS Coverage of the Convening
• Read the recap of our Ohio Convening
• Watch our video series on YouTube
• Watch the recap of the California convening
• Watch the recap of our Ohio Convening