The Evaluation and Assessment Framework

Denmark deserves credit for stimulating an assessment and evaluation culture in compulsory education. However, the suite of compulsory measures for student assessment, school evaluation and system evaluation does not yet form a coherent framework for evaluation and assessment. Importantly, the framework does not include teacher and school principal appraisal. In developing a strategic plan to complete the evaluation and assessment framework, the evaluation of teaching and learning quality should be at the core. There is a common basis for the evaluation and assessment of student learning progress (the Common Objectives in compulsory education), plus there have been considerable central and municipal efforts to promote evaluation and assessment activities. However, implementation and activities vary among schools and municipalities. A priority now is to develop evaluation and assessment capacity throughout the compulsory education system. There is also room to clarify evaluation purposes and to refine and update the Common Objectives and other central measures.