This document describes the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment and Accountability Program (ACTAAP), which includes the Smart Start initiative for grades K through 4 and the Smart Step initiative for grades 5 through 8, as well as assessments for high schools. As it encourages educational improvement, the ACTAAP fulfills the requirements of…

This report presents the results of Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) students on the North Carolina End-of-Grade (EOG) multiple-choice tests from May and June 2001. The EOG tests have several components, but all are designed to measure student achievement of the knowledge and skills of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for…

With the administration of the 2002 Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP), a questionnaire was given to students in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10 about Opportunity to Learn, Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, and to all students in grades 4, 6, 8, and 11 about Opportunity to Learn, Science, and Social Studies. Students responses to the questions were…

Students in grades 3 through 8 of the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) took the North Carolina End-of-Grade (EOG) multiple choice tests during May and June 1999. All EOG tests are designed to measure student achievement of knowledge and skills of the North Carolina standard course of study. The multiple choice tests are required in reading…

In June 2003 the Maine Department of Education published the "Local Assessment System (LAS) Guide: Principles and Criteria for the Adoption of Local Assessment Systems." This LAS Guide provides school systems with the criteria and rules necessary to comply with Chapter 127 while also providing flexibility for local decisions. The intent…

This paper resulted from the work of the Study Group on Transitions in Assessments from IASA ("Improving America's Schools Act of 1994") to NCLB ("No Child Left Behind Act of 2001") comprised of state educational specialists and consultants of the Comprehensive Assessment Systems for ESEA ("Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965") Title I…

This case study of testing in the Dallas Independent School District illuminates ways in which the testing program can support a district-wide instructional improvement process to provide a comprehensive and accurate measurement system for teaching. (Author/PN)

The System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment (SOMPA) is an assessment system compatible with Public Law 92-142. A general description of SOMPA is provided. (JKS)

After decades of criticism that standardized testing is culturally biased, the Educational Testing Service claims great strides in eliminating test bias in the Scholastic Assessment Tests and related tests and reports initiatives in cooperation with educators leading to better academic preparation for students of color. Critics still ask for…

Addresses issues in evaluating the consequences of assessment programs that are developed to hold schools accountable to state standards. Proposes a validation study to obtain consequential evidence for state assessment and accountability programs that includes a validity argument, propositions that follow from the validity argument, a definition…

Discusses the problems associated with the assessment of art and design. Identifies criterion-referenced assessment practices within the British General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) program as central to the development of a system of examination which is more fair to participants. (KO)

Discusses the special challenges to community college assessment programs posed by linguistic, cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity in student populations. Provides an overview of important considerations for developing assessment activities. Describes the efforts of North Seattle Community College to address these considerations. (MAB)

A Southern Regional Education Board study has revealed widespread lack of proper training and certification for teachers at the middle school level in the South. A major recommendation is that states require teachers of middle-grade students to have special licensure. Some efforts in statewide testing and accreditation are targeting such problems.…

Summarizes recent developments in the use of technology in schools and state-level testing programs. Presents results of two studies, one with 114 students and one with about 200 students, that indicate that written tests administered on paper underestimate the achievement of students accustomed to working with computers. (SLD)

Provides a chronological summary of the evolution of statewide achievement tests in Texas to facilitate understanding of the issues behind the "GI Forum v. Texas Education Agency" litigation (1999), which challenged the curricular links of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills and other "opportunity to learn" issues. (SLD)