Why Pathfinder?

The Pathfinder product grew from an understanding that a collaborative and comprehensive use of assessment data is essential to support growth on both the individual student level and the broader school-wide level. Pathfinder has numerous elements that aim to facilitate this kind of comprehension and growth.

Collaboration. Using custom groups, Pathfinder allows administrators to give any teacher access to any student’s test data and review materials. This allows teachers to collectively address student needs and enhance interventions. 

Contextual Comprehension of Student Progress. The Pathfinder team calculates “expected” data for each student based on their previous state test performance (see more information in ‘How does Pathways Calculate Expected Performance?’) Using relative data allows administrators and teachers to easily pick out students that are not performing as expected, pointing to a need for extra attention and remediation. 

Item and Standard Level Data. Pathfinder also calculates “expected” data for each item and standard on Pathways Snapshots and Benchmarks. Comparing this expected data with a student’s performance gives teachers the ability to focus remediation on questions or standards that a student was expected to master based on their baseline (past state test) performance level, but did not. 

Assessment of Teacher Performance. Administrators have access to the “accountability” portal, allowing them to view expected vs. actual performances on the classroom level. By viewing data through an “expected” lens rather than solely performance level, administrators gain a more accurate understanding of which teachers are excelling and which teachers may need extra support.