This monograph provides educators with the fundamental knowledge needed to develop and use direct assessments of student writing proficiency. The first chapter offers a brief review of the current status of writing assessment in the United States, focusing on emerging interest in the topic over the past decade. The second chapter presents an…

Assessment literates know how to meet specific standards of quality. Sound assessments arise from and serve clear purposes, reflect clear and appropriate achievement targets, rely on proper methods, sample student achievement appropriately, and control for sources of bias and distortion. Barriers include fear of assessment, insufficient time, and…

Not since the development of the objective paper and pencil test early in the century has an assessment method hit the American educational scene with such force as has performance assessment methodology in the 1990s. Performance assessment relies on teacher observation and professional judgment to draw inferences about student achievement.…

This guide, written for teachers and administrators wishing to introduce evaluation systems that promote continued teacher growth and enhance school effectiveness, suggests that meaningful change requires a clear understanding of what is already in operation, substantial skill development, and adequate resources for the duration of the change…

This report describes the fifth in a series of investigations of the nature, role, and quality of teacher-developed classroom assessments. The purpose of this research program is to provide a clear picture of the assessment demands of the classroom so teacher educators can plan assessment training that is relevant to teachers' needs. The purpose…