Unleashing the Power of Assessment: Placing Assessment Bank in the Hands of Teachers

Abstract

This paper recounts state and national accountability initiatives over the last thirty years and examines the impact of those initiatives on Western Australian schools. A 2010 survey of Western Australian educators found that one of the areas of greatest need was support for assessment. The paper explores research undertaken through joint research between Western Australian Primary Principals’ Association and the University of Western Australia to develop an assessment process that uses teachers’ assessments of their own students to meet their school accountability requirements.