Dr. Locke Joins ERB Board of Trustees

From the Desk of Kristin Blanchfield, Assistant Head of School for External Affairs

Newman’s Head of School T.J. Locke was invited recently to join the board of the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). The mission of ERB is to create testing and learning solutions that would help schools develop improved curriculum based on results, thus helping students gain a better education. T.J.’s experience in public and independent school education is a valuable addition to ERB. His participation with fellow ERB trustees representing some of the best schools across the country also solidifies Newman’s position nationally, and ensures that Newman is part of the conversation on testing at a national level. (http://erblearn.org/about/trustees)

I interviewed T.J. this week when he returned from his first meeting of the ERB trustees to learn more about ERB and the role of its testing at Newman.

Kristin: T.J., why did you accept the invitation to join the ERB board?

T.J.: I was honored to be asked to join a prestigious group of educators from the best public and independent schools across the country. ERB is a nationally recognized benchmarking group that helps to define what excellence looks like in schools. The tests provided by ERB to assess student achievement represent the industry standard for independent schools. My dissertation explored the implications of No Child Left Behind. I have a keen interest in testing that has a deep respect for education, and that assesses the things that are important.

Kristin: What does the ERB test?

T.J.: The tests provided by ERB assess both aptitude and achievement. At Newman, our students are tested in grades 3-8 with the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP). CTP is a rigorous assessment of student achievement in English language arts and mathematics. Grades 3-5 just completed the Writing Assessment Program (WrAP) and are the first grades at Newman to pilot ERB’s new computer testing service that will be used by grades 3-8 next year.

Kristin: Why does Newman administer the ERB tests?

T.J.: The tests provide an opportunity to understand a student’s relative ability on a national scale. The ERB also helps us to understand a student’s abilities that may not correlate directly to grades. Teachers also use the information to understand and evaluate our curriculum and how it compares nationally. We use the data to identify trends and opportunities to continually revise and update how we teach our students. Newman chooses to test our students in the spring in order for teachers to incorporate data into their planning each summer. They can then implement new or revised curriculum strategies for the following year based on the findings. The ERB test results are an external source that informs Newman’s approach to data-driven instruction.

Kristin: Any final thoughts for our readers about your experience with the ERB board so far?

T.J.: I was deeply impressed with the level of discourse, and I was able to share best practices with some of the best educational leaders in the country. I look forward to continuing our conversations about the best assessment practices in schools and how our schools can have accountability that is also aligned with a comprehensive education.