Standardized Achievement Tests only Tell Part of the Story: The Importance of Understanding your Child’s Cognitive Ability

Most Standardized Tests only test your child’s achievement (what they have learned), but do not test your child’s ability (what they are capable of learning). It is the difference between the child’s ability and their achievement that can yield critical information about how your “child is doing.”

Phase3 Lab School invites you to a presentation by Dr. Robert Cruise on the need to understand a child’s cognitive ability and how it impacts a child’s academic achievement. This program, intended for parents and teachers of Elementary age children, will take place on the Phase3 campus at 1 East Olive Avenue, Redlands, on Tuesday, February 27, at 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Cruise was the research director for Cognitive Genesis, a landmark study that sought to understand what student, home and school factors were associated with higher academic achievement. In this study, the largest of its kind in the world, Dr. Cruise tested and surveyed 70,000 students, their parents, teachers and administrators for four years.

From its inception, Phase3 committed to understand, measure and nurture its students’ cognitive and non-cognitive skills and abilities. In order to better understand the pros and cons of standardized academic testing we took a deep dive into the field. We learned that things are far more nuanced than partisans on either side of the standardized testing debate would have us believe.

In November of 2017, all Phase3 Elementary students (from 3rd year up), took academic assessment tests. These tests evaluated both their achievement (what they have learned — what most schools normally test for) and their cognitive ability (what they are capable of learning). In reviewing the results (which we consider baselines for our children), we noticed a number of interesting trends; in particular with the children that came to us with prior Montessori experience.

The insights we gained were compelling and we decided that it would help parents and educators in our community, not just Montessori parents, to hear about what we learned. Only by understanding what tools are available and how to properly apply and interpret them, can parents and educators make better decisions about their children’s and students’ education.

“It is important for parents to understand as early as possible, what their children’s academic strengths and weaknesses are. There are excellent tools available to understand not just a child’s achievement, but also their cognitive ability” said Vanessa Stewart, Head of School at Phase3. “It is the gap between ability and achievement that gives us insight into a child’s educational needs. Most schools only test for achievement, and that can leave us with an incomplete picture.”

Parents and teachers will learn the answers to the following questions:

• How does ability differ from achievement? and why is this important?
• How do tests of cognitive ability differ from standardized achievement tests?
• Is cognitive ability the same as intelligence? Can cognitive ability be improved?
• What do test results look like and how can parents/teachers learn to interpret them?
• What do schoolwide standardized test results tell me about my child/student?
• What do standardized test results tell me about my child’s school?
• I have results for my child, what’s next?

To RSVP, please call 833-474-2733 or visit: https://goo.gl/4o2sPR

About Phase3 Lab School

Phase3 Lab School serves Inland Empire students from pre-school through 6th grade. It creates strong bonds with with its families to ensure the best possible outcomes for its students. It uses an enriched Montessori method (Montessori+) that includes STEAM, language immersion and rigorous athletics. For more information please visit: www.phase3.school