Formative assessment refers to a system of more frequent summative assessments administered at regular intervals (often quarterly) to determine which students have not yet met state standards--an early warning system. On the one hand, it helps to identify students who need help when there is still time to help them. On the other hand, while this very expensive assessment process helps identify the problem, it does not help those students find greater success. For that, the definition must be expanded. Enter "assessment for learning." Assessment "for" learning happens in the classroom and involves students in every aspect of their own assessment to build their confidence and maximize their achievement. It rests on the understanding that students, not just adults, are data-driven instructional decision makers. This article details five keys to classroom assessment quality, with each broken down into specific competencies teachers need to master to tap the full potential of assessment "for" learning. (Contains 9 resources.)