What question should a school leader ask to evaluate the usefulness of district-wide benchmark assessments?

The focus of a school leader when evaluating district-wide benchmark assessments should center around the information these assessments yield and how this information informs instructional decision-making. By asking whether the assessments provide useful information, the leader can gauge the effectiveness of the assessments in identifying student learning needs, guiding instructional strategies, and measuring progress toward educational goals. This evaluation ensures that the assessments are not merely administered for accountability purposes, but are truly beneficial in enhancing teaching and learning within the classroom.

Assessments that do not offer actionable insights into student performance may not effectively support educators in making informed decisions about instruction. Monitoring the utility of these assessments allows school leaders to discern whether the data can lead to improved student outcomes and whether adjustments in teaching practices are needed based on the results.

While the other options address important aspects of assessments—such as the challenge level, fairness from the students' perspective, and alignment with state standards—they do not directly evaluate the central purpose of assessments, which is to provide data that aids teachers in making informed instructional choices.