Effective assessment communicates what students know and what they need to know, and is part of an important feedback loop that informs instruction and curriculum choices. This section of the toolkit currently covers two main types of assessment—portfolios and standardized tests. As policy instruments used to hold schools and systems accountable, both types of assessment are mired in significant controversy. When administered consistently and tied to content standards, however, each approach can provide valuable feedback to students, teachers, parents and administrators. There are many other ways to assess students—classroom assignments and tests, projects, socio/emotional testing, and employer assessments, to name a few. Contingent on continued funding and support, we plan to develop modules on these types of assessments as well.