The document discusses effective language assessment practices. It emphasizes that assessment should be a democratic process that engages students and provides clear, ongoing feedback to improve learning. Effective assessments use multiple, authentic tasks that integrate skills, are aligned to instruction, and are fair for all students. The document provides recommendations for formative assessment, using different assessment types, contextualizing tasks, empowering students, and ensuring assessments are valid and unbiased. Overall, it promotes the idea that assessment should guide and enhance the learning process rather than simply evaluate students.