The curriculum-embedded procedures used to construct, validate, and refine assessment tasks for mathematics are described and discussed. Curriculum-embedded assessment places assessment tasks in the day-to-day context of the classroom. The test of a curriculum-embedded task is whether it could be regarded as curriculum material per se. In…

Portfolios, with their associated exhibitions, will be the heart of the New Standards assessment system that is being developed. It will be necessary to combine the functions of portfolios as measurement tools and as tools for instruction and learning. As a beginning, the New Standards project has examined how teachers are already using portfolios…

A secondary mathematics curriculum of open-ended non-routine problems developed by a teacher of high school math over 10 years is described. An open-ended non-routine problem is one that requires problem recognition and orientation, effort, and persistence. It is open-ended in that it allows for various solutions, and requires the student to…

The differences between multiple-choice, simulated, and concurrent tests of software-skills proficiency are discussed. For three basic human-resource functions, the advantages of concurrent tests (i.e., those that use the actual application software) include true performance-based assessment, unconstrained response alternatives, and increased job…

This paper presents a synthesis of research on teacher-constructed portfolios and a scan of the state of the art in using teacher-constructed portfolios in preservice teacher education and in inservice teacher development and assessment. It continues work begun in 1991 at the Far West Laboratory on the increased interest in using teacher…

The relationship between a broad set of personality factors and principals' performance was studied using the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF). How high and low performing principals actually spent their time on the job was a secondary focus of the study. Subjects were 46 elementary school and 33 secondary school principals (96%…

This paper examines the evaluation of student performance (SP) in schools in order to develop a set of strategies for creating more responsive systems for its evaluation, focusing on disadvantaged students. Problems involved in the evaluation of the performance of disadvantaged students are examined, including: evaluation purposes (direction,…

Kamehameha Schools (Honolulu, Hawaii), a privately funded program with approximately 2,000 students and 175 teachers grades 7-12, is implementing a school-wide curriculum evaluation program. As part of this program, the departments of mathematics, science, social studies, counseling, human relations, speech and English collaborated in the…

Describes foundation and development of a performance-based teacher evaluation method developed in Missouri which makes mastery learning the basis for outcomes of instruction. Eight discrete parts of the teaching act characterizing successful teaching, four criteria important in performance-based evaluation development, and four definable phases…

Collaborative problem solving and collaborative skills are considered necessary skills for success in today's world. Collaborative problem solving is defined as problem solving activities that involve interactions among a group of individuals. Large-scale and small-scale assessment programs increasingly use collaborative group tasks in which…

The Illinois Learning Standards are state content standards that describe what students should know and be able to achieve in grades K-12. The challenge for the 2000-2001 school year was to produce performance standards that would indicate how well students should perform to meet the state standards. The performance standards describe how well…

The Illinois Learning Standards are state content standards that describe what students should know and be able to achieve in grades K-12. The challenge for the 2000-2001 school year was to produce performance standards that would indicate how well students should perform to meet the state standards. The performance standards describe how well…

How do teachers respond to the competing pressures of school accountability, high-stakes testing, classroom assessment and instruction? This updated collection of articles from The Reading Teacher can help. Readers will find tools for: (1) Building school assessment policies; (2) Helping students succeed on high-stakes tests; (3) Using assessment…

This paper reviews issues surrounding the use of discrepancy in identifying learning disabilities. Since 1976, it argues, discrepancy has been the primary criterion for defining learning disabilities in practice. In a psychometric and statistical sense, however, issues about the best means for calculating a discrepancy remain problematic. Another…

In examining the topic of evaluation, it is necessary to look at the role of evaluation in supervision and professional development. For any program to be effective, research states that accountability must be the focus of those responsible for the program. Evaluation of program, results, and personnel is part of providing for accountability. The…