Research and Assessment Department
The Research and Assessment Department (RAD) supports Northshore by promoting evidence-based decision making. The RAD is guided by the concept of designing effective evaluation loops that guide progress towards district and school goals. In so doing, the department works to align district priorities, school priorities, and the broader assessment system.
Department Responsibilities
The Research and Assessment Department serves its broader mission through four major functions.
- Coordinating the assessment of the strategic goals outlined in the Northshore 2022-27 Strategic Plan. Assessment results are reviewed across five School Board Study Sessions which can be viewed on the Northshore School District Youtube channel.
- Managing several district-wide assessments, including:
- i-Ready assessments in Reading and Mathematics; i-Ready assessments occur multiple times a year in Kindergarten through Grade 8.
- Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) in English Language Arts (Grades 3-8; Grade 10), Mathematics (Grades 3-8; Grade 10), and Science (Grades 5, 8, and 11); Smarter Balanced Assessments are required by Washington State’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) tests that occur in Grades 5, 8, and 11; WCAS assessments are required by Washington State’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- Assessment for Students with Cognitive Disabilities (WA-AIM) which provides alternative assessments in English Language Arts (Grades 3-8; Grade 10), Math (Grades 3-8; Grade 10), and Science (Grade 11).
- Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) is a whole-child assessment that occurs in Kindergarten; WaKids is part of Washington state initiative to ensure smooth transitions into public education
- WIDA screener to determine eligibility for English language development instruction.
- Social-emotional assessments that occur biannually with support from our partners at Panorama Education.
- Developing information management systems that occur within the Northshore school district. These systems are designed to enhance the utilization of high-leverage data.
- Supporting Northshore through an “as needed” basis. This support ranges from quick consultations to more substantive forms of long-term support.
Research Requests
The department also manages requests people make to conduct research within Northshore. Northshore approves research requests when the proposed research helps Northshore achieve its broader educational mission. Supplementary research efforts can help Northshore identify best practices and increase teacher, staff, and administrator expertise. Northshore does not approve research requests that distract Northshore from its core educational mission without providing some tangible benefit in return.
Researchers interested in conducting research at Northshore can initiate the process by emailing Dr. Craig Foster, Director of Research and Assessment.
Meet The Team
Director of Research and Assessment
Craig Foster, PhD
425.408.8983
cfoster3@nsd.org
The Director of Research and Assessment is the primary contact for (1) the assessment of Northshore strategic goals, (2) Northshore’s social-emotional survey (a.k.a., the Panorama survey), (3) questions about ongoing or potentially new forms of assessment, and (4) research requests.
Assistant Director of Assessment
Derek Tucci
425.408.7665
dtucci@nsd.org
The Assistant Director of Assessment is the primary contact for Kindergarten through Grade 12 academic assessment (i-Ready, SBA, WCAS, WA-AIM, WA-KIDS, and WIDA)
Data Analyst
Angie Hancock
425.408.7685
ahancock@nsd.org
The Data Analyst is the primary contact for (1) data management involving the Northshore student information system and (2) information regarding Highly Capable services.