This manual, which is provided as a resource for Illinois School Districts and which incorporates some of the materials in the Alaska Department of Education's Assessment Handbook, is designed to meet the requirements of Public Act 84-126 and to help practitioners develop student assessment plans of local usefulness. Areas covered in the guidelines include the nature of assessment and a comprehensive assessment system, involvement of staff and other constituent groups, types of assessment, alignment of assessment with curriculum and instruction, selection of standardized achievement tests, construction of local assessment procedures, administration of assessment programs, keeping records, and reporting assessment results. Assessment planning roles for teachers, administrators, curriculum coordinators, school board members, and parents are outlined. Other important considerations addressed include maximizing validity and reliability, avoiding bias, using multiple approaches, assessing different cognitive levels, using assessment procedures for multiple purposes, and developing an assessment schedule. Appendices include a glossary of assessment terms, a list of contact persons for proposals for funding for development and dissemination of effective assessment practices, and guidelines for improving test questions. (TJH)