The Center for Innovation in Education (CIE), in partnership with Allen County Schools in Kentucky and education researchers at the University of Kentucky, has been awarded a $160,000 EduDream grant for an 18-month research project. EduDream, a Latina-founded, women-owned research and consulting firm, inspires transformation by bridging community voice and rigorous research.
The study will examine how engaging diverse community stakeholders through inclusive design impacts their understanding, engagement, and satisfaction with the district's innovative new assessment and accountability model. Allen County is part of the first cohort of districts in the Kentucky United We Learn (KUWL) initiative, a statewide effort to create assessment and accountability systems that are more equitable and responsive to local needs.
During the past few years, Superintendent Travis Hamby has led Allen County in defining a profile of a graduate (called “Profile of a Patriot”)— the key competencies every graduate should possess. The district has collaborated with a group of about 30 members, including teachers, families, community members, business leaders, and students, to design new ways for students to demonstrate mastery of these competencies, such as through portfolios and exhibitions of learning. Educators designed performance-based assessments tied to the Profile, and the district is now designing an accountability dashboard to engage the community in making progress.
While Allen County has made great strides, more research is needed to understand how inclusive design processes not only reflect community values, but also engage the public in ongoing conversations that drive improvement. The CIE study aims to provide this crucial feedback by investigating:
How community priorities inform the design of the new assessment and accountability model
The impact of co-creation with diverse stakeholders on their understanding, satisfaction, trust and ownership
How students, families, educators, and community members engage with the new measures to foster reciprocal dialogue and continuous improvement
Through multiple research methods, including student-led research, the study will elevate the voices of constituents who have been least likely to be engaged in educational research and decision-making. Findings will inform the continued refinement of Allen County’s model as well as a broader redesign of Kentucky’s assessment and accountability through the KUWL initiative.
Allen County provides a powerful case study in inclusive design with national relevance. Insights will contribute to the growing conversation around how policies and practices at all levels can authentically engage and respond to diverse local stakeholders to create more equitable, sustainable education reforms. We look forward to sharing what we learn in Allen County to inform transformative changes in assessment and accountability across the country.
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