This document discusses the backward design model for developing assessments. It emphasizes that valid evidence of student learning aligns with learning goals and outcomes. It reviews assessing for, as, and of learning and describes three principles of assessment: using multiple sources of evidence, aligning assessment with goals, and ensuring form follows function. The document also discusses types of assessment and describes valid evidence. It introduces the six facets of understanding and how they can guide authentic assessment and performance tasks. Finally, it provides directions for school teams to design a performance task using understanding facets and the GRASPS template.