Formative assessments are ongoing assessments used by teachers to monitor student learning progress during the instructional process. Unlike summative assessments, which typically occur at the end of a unit or course to evaluate student mastery of content, formative assessments are designed to provide feedback to both teachers and students while learning is still in progress. These assessments can take various forms, such as quizzes, discussions, observations, or informal checks for understanding. The primary purpose of formative assessments is to inform instructional decisions, identify areas where students may need additional support or clarification, and guide adjustments to teaching strategies to better meet students' needs. Ultimately, formative assessments help teachers gauge student understanding in real-time, promote active engagement in learning, and support ongoing improvement and growth.

We work with teachers and schools to improve teacher capacity for conducting formative assessments, including through the development of tailored tablet-based applications which are designed to meet specific needs and practices of teachers in Somali communities.

Regular data collection and reporting can significantly improve teacher practices and education policy by providing valuable insights into student learning outcomes, instructional effectiveness, and system-wide trends. Through the analysis of data, educators and policymakers can:

1. Inform Instructional Decision-Making: Regular data collection allows teachers to track student progress and identify areas where students may be struggling or excelling. With this information, teachers can tailor their instruction to better meet students' individual needs, implement targeted interventions, and provide additional support where necessary.

2. Evaluate and Refine Teaching Strategies: Data analysis enables educators to assess the effectiveness of different teaching strategies and interventions. By examining trends in student performance over time, teachers can identify which instructional approaches are most successful and make informed decisions about refining their practices to optimize student learning outcomes.

3. Identify Achievement Gaps: Regular data reporting can highlight achievement gaps between student subgroups, such as students from different socioeconomic backgrounds or with varying levels of prior achievement. By identifying these disparities, educators and policymakers can develop targeted interventions and policies aimed at addressing equity issues and ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education.

4. Support Professional Development: Data-driven insights can inform targeted professional development opportunities for educators. By identifying areas where teachers may need additional training or support, school leaders can design professional development programs that address specific instructional needs and promote continuous improvement in teaching practices.

5. Inform Education Policy: Aggregate data collected from schools and districts can inform education policy decisions at the local, state, and national levels. By analyzing trends in student achievement, graduation rates, and other key indicators, policymakers can develop evidence-based policies and allocate resources effectively to support student success and school improvement efforts.

We work with schools, teachers, government, and international organizations to develop robust data collection, analysis, and reporting mechanisms which can provide real-time feedback to inform decisions, track progress, and identify new and emerging opportunities and challenges.