The Florida case of "Sweeney v. Turlington" dramatically illustrates the confusion between measurement and evaluation and how measurement-oriented evaluation systems diminish the role of the evaluator. This article discusses the implications of this case, which challenged the validity of the Florida Performance Measurement System, a…

Although there is disagreement among educators about performance standards and their relationship to student performance, performance standards are central to the reforms under way in many states and large school districts, including Philadelphia. They are also mentioned explicitly in the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and in the re-authorization…

Each year when the Educational Testing Services releases state average SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores of high school students, Indiana officials are asked why Indiana ranks so low and what's being done to improve it. Leaders reply that scores are lower because more students take the test than in states with higher scores. This report…