Educational Assessment News: How Synchronous Instruction Improves Student Metrics

When educational assessment news makes headlines, it often signals a shift in how schools measure progress, and the conversations can get heated fast. In Los Angeles, for example, the second-largest school district in the country is debating whether to scale back or stop standardized tests altogether, with some board members arguing that standardized tests undermine real student learning and fail to reflect what’s truly happening in classrooms.

This is more than just a policy debate. It’s a question about how we measure success, prepare students for the future, and keep our education system accountable. While federally mandated assessments aren’t going away, there’s growing momentum to find better assessment measures that provide actionable data without limiting instruction to the same test every year.

The answer may lie in innovative models like synchronous learning, which can strengthen instruction and boost results without relying solely on outdated testing systems.

Current Challenges in Educational Assessment

Improving student assessment results means addressing deep, structural issues that affect instruction and learning outcomes. Many districts face teacher shortages, limited resources, and assessments that don’t always align with a culturally relevant curriculum.

These factors contribute to gaps in performance that can’t be solved with practice tests alone. Below are the most pressing challenges districts face today when it comes to measuring and improving student learning.

The Debate Over Standardized Testing

Supporters of change argue that standardized tests undermine equity and fail to capture important aspects of student learning. Critics point out that the testing industry generates enormous profit while placing pressure on school staff to “teach to the test.”

In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) case of September 2024, board president Jackie Goldberg and board member Nick Melvoin noted that over-reliance on testing creates tensions between meeting state mandates and supporting project-based learning or a culturally relevant curriculum.

They also stated that overemphasis on standardized test prep can pull resources from other critical areas, leaving less time for individualized instruction, enrichment, and civic engagement.

Impact of Teacher Shortages on Assessment Measures

Research shows that students taught by uncertified teachers often underperform on test scores and other assessment measures. According to the Learning Policy Institute, there were over 108,000 teachers nationally not fully certified for their assignments in 2017 alone. This shortage makes it difficult to accurately track students’ academic performance, since the quality of instruction differs so widely across classrooms.

Without fully qualified educators, test preparation becomes inconsistent, and practice tests can’t make up for missed instructional depth. Schools with staffing gaps also have fewer opportunities to integrate culturally relevant curriculum, further widening achievement gaps.

Special Education and Assessment Gaps

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Teacher Shortage Report, 39 of 50 states reported special education teacher shortages for the 2024–2025 school year. For the 7 million students nationwide with IEPs, this shortage means missed accommodations, incomplete data collection, and inconsistent progress monitoring, all of which affect student assessment results.

How Synchronous Instruction Improves Student Metrics

Synchronous learning is the modern solution to these challenges in the education system. This approach is live, real-time instruction where teachers and students interact through video conferencing. Unlike asynchronous learning, which relies on pre-recorded video lectures, synchronous lessons allow for immediate feedback, collaboration, and relationship-building.

Sessions are supported by Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas or Schoology, which track attendance, assignments, grades, and resources. This helps educators track students' academic performance continuously, not just during test season.

By pairing certified teachers with students via livestream, districts can ensure instruction is consistent, personalized, and aligned to both standards and a culturally relevant curriculum. This model boosts assessment measures and student learning outcomes.

For example, after implementing Proximity Learning’s synchronous model in their school, Red River Charter Academy experienced a 56% increase in core subject grades, and one partner doubled its world language offerings. Synchronous instruction provides these results in the following four key ways.

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Provides Access to Certified Teachers for Consistent Instruction

With synchronous instruction, even districts struggling with staffing can connect students to certified educators daily. This consistency improves test preparation beginning earlier in the year, allowing for targeted review and practice tests well before middle school end-of-year exams or College Board exams. Certified teachers deliver stronger academic results and directly influence test scores and overall performance.

Integrates Culturally Relevant Curriculum

When districts integrate culturally relevant curriculum into daily instruction, students engage more deeply and perform better on both standardized and alternative assessment measures.

Synchronous models make it easier to match project-based learning with state standards, helping districts evaluate learning in a more holistic way. This connection also addresses concerns from LAUSD’s board members about the limits of the same test year after year.

Supports Diverse Assessment Measures

Synchronous instruction supports project-based learning, performance tasks, and formative assessments that can complement or replace over-reliance on standardized test results. Teachers can use LMS tools to collect ongoing data and provide school boards and district leaders with a clearer picture of student learning progress. This approach also benefits community schooling initiatives, where instructional coaches work alongside instructors to align instruction with local needs.

The Future of Educational Assessment and Instruction

The call to pilot innovative approaches is growing louder, especially in districts facing limited resources and declining enrollment. By combining federally required tests with alternative assessment measures, districts can create a common language for evaluating both academic growth and social-emotional development.

Synchronous learning offers a practical way to meet the LAUSD superintendent's standard for instructional quality while giving teachers the flexibility to address specific areas that traditional assessments often miss. Data from LMS platforms can help leaders immediately respond to areas of need, making every board meeting discussion more productive and solutions-oriented.

For example, Proximity Learning’s certified case managers help close these gaps by:

• Customizing IEPs
• Monitoring student progress
• Compiling assessment data

This approach ensures that all students – whether elementary school fifth graders, preteens taking middle school year tests, or high schoolers – get the support they need to meet federally outlined goals while preparing for regional tests and other evaluations.

Turning Data into Progress with Proximity Learning

The future of educational assessment doesn’t have to be a choice between keeping or eliminating standardized tests – it can be about finding a better balance. By combining certified, synchronous instruction with more varied assessment measures, districts can improve student learning, close gaps, and maintain accountability without sacrificing instructional depth.

Proximity Learning has been delivering live, certified instruction for over 15 years, partnering with more than 400 schools and staffing over 3,000 classrooms nationwide. Our certified teachers, tailored curricula, and use of technology have helped districts boost test scores, support special education students, and provide exceptional instructional quality.

We know how to help districts track students' academic performance and improve results, no matter their starting point. Talk to us today to learn how we can help you boost performance, meet requirements, and prepare every student for lasting success.

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