Examined the validity and reliability of the Professional Development Inventory, an instrument used in assessment centers of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Results support the ease of use and high degree of validity and reliability of the instrument. (SLD)

The newly formed and still evolving National Executive Development Center of the American Association of School Administrators is described. Its mission is to provide a process for guiding professional development of school executives. Considerations regarding the use of assessment data for formative and summative evaluation are discussed. (SLD)

The research of the Biology component of the Teacher Assessment Project (BioTAP) of Stanford (California) University is described. BioTAP uses portfolio development as an important aspect of teacher assessment. Advantages and drawbacks of teacher portfolios are discussed, including issues of validity and reliability. (SLD)

The context and development of the assessment center exercises used in the field of secondary history and social studies under Connecticut's Teacher Assessment Center Program are reviewed. Preliminary findings suggest success in designing an assessment that combines the knowledge from formal instruction with the skills gained through classroom…

The interrater reliability for 33 pairs of evaluators of a group assessment procedure developed from assessment center techniques was supported in 3 studies in Israel (admission to a counseling program for 109 candidates, admission of 94 candidates to teacher training, and selection of 69 candidates for Army teaching posts). (SLD)

Performance testing is discussed as a method for teacher evaluation. Although new to teaching, performance assessment has a long history in assessment of other occupations, and much can be learned from this experience. Performance assessments, measuring knowledge and abilities in use, can help sharpen the definition of teacher competence. (SLD)

The CONNTAC program marks an attempt to develop an integrative performance assessment process that will measure knowledge, skills, and instructional repertoire of beginning teachers. The development of assessment center exercises and the critical role that scoring plays in exercise development are described. (SLD)

Teacher assessments should reduce the discrepancy between what is and what should be true for effective teaching and professional standards. Performance Assessment Centers are an attractive way to improve teacher assessment. In such centers, candidates participate in simulated job tasks tapping abilities related to the assessment's focus. (SLD)