When most people hear the word 'assessment,' they think of large-scale tests, such as the SAT or state tests such as the HSPA.  It is a generally accepted principle of appropriate test use, however, that educators should rely on a variety of assessment tools to determine student achievement.  Teachers constantly integrate assessment into instructional practice.  Participation in classroom discussions, homework, quizzes, project work, etc., all play a part in the teacher's assessment of student progress.  While we certainly take into account a student's performance on large-scale standardized tests, it is our belief that educational decisions about students should never be based upon a single score on such a test.