Fall Conference

“Let’s Talk Formative Assessment: Real Time and Ongoing”

Fall Summit

October 2, 2026

Call For Presenter Information and Submisson Form

We know that intentional and purposeful assessment that focuses on mastery learning is the number one researched proven method to push instruction to its highest level. Formative assessment is the key to informed and improved instruction and student achievement.

Our Keynote Speaker for this event will be Kris Peterson, PhD: National Director of Innovation and Data Insights from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH). Kris hails from Milwaukee, WI and she will share her expertise in the area of formative assessment to improve both direct instruction and assessment question writing.

We know that strong Tier One instruction (at grade level learning) is the first defense in moving students forward academically.  We have heard that Tier Two instruction cannot solve a Tier One issue. Students make their best overall improvements when explicit instructional technique is combined with the appropriate assessment methods.  Some of the most successful assessment practices include:

Well planned explicit (direct) instruction guided by formative assessments that include student active learning not only during direct instruction, but also during practice and reteaching.

Effective questioning both during instruction, in practice and with written assessments. We must know how and when to question, what type of questions to use and how to scaffold them. This would include the use of rubrics and scoring guides to focus the desired learning.

All assessment questions should include a complement of content specific vocabulary words, and answers should require student use of that vocabulary.

Join your colleagues from across the state as we share and learn together what we need to know to improve our instruction through robust assessment writing, techniques and practices.