Setting standards on educational tests is extremely challenging. The psychometric literature is replete with methods and guidelines for setting standards on educational tests; however, little attention has been paid to the process of setting standards on computerized adaptive tests (CATs). This lack of attention is unfortunate because CATs are…

This paper looks at using descriptions of subject matter content to assist in the development and interpretation of student performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). These descriptions of content, called achievement level descriptions (ALDs), were initially conceptualized as exemplary statements of the knowledge and…

To address the issues associated with testing standards, sets of context-setting variables and technical matters associated with standard-setting are presented to assist groups or committees desiring to set standards in a systematic way. (Author/CM)

An ignored aspect of standard setting, namely the possibility that Angoff or Nedelsky judges specify inconsistent probabilities (e.g., low probabilities for easy items but large probabilities for hard items) is explored. A latent trait method is proposed to estimate such misspecifications, and an index of consistency is defined. (Author/PN)

Setting high standards will not cause excellent student performance. Standards must be set for the everyday work teachers expect of students. Work-design standards are needed to protect students from pointless teacher-generated work. Greater coherence and focus for learning will occur if secondary schools are designed backward from worthy tasks…

The major forms of evidence that support a standard's credibility are reviewed, and what can be done over time and for different forms of an examination to enhance its comparability in a credentialing setting is outlined. Pass-fail decisions must be consistent to ensure a standard's credibility. (SLD)

Outlines a framework for considering the validity of standards-based score interpretations and then considers the potential roles of different stakeholder groups and other participants in that process. Suggests study of a new standard-setting method, the "briefing book," which would describe alternative cut scores. (SLD)

Whether anchor item sets varying in difficulty and discrimination affect precision of cutting score equivalents generated through judge rescaling as much as equivalents from score equating was studied with 4 groups of experts and 250 and 1,000 examinees. Results indicate the robustness of judge rescaling and its superiority over equating. (SLD)

The comparability of Angoff-based item ratings on a general education test battery made by judges from within-content and across-content domains was studied. Results with 26 college faculty judges indicate that, at least for some tests, item ratings might be essentially equivalent regardless of judge's content specialty. (SLD)

A performance-standard setting procedure termed judgmental policy capturing (JPC) and its application are described. A study involving 12 panelists demonstrated the feasibility of the JPC method for setting performance standards for classroom teachers seeking certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. (SLD)

The three standard-setting approaches described in this special issue are summarized and contrasted: (1) judgmental policy capturing; (2) the extended Angoff method; and (3) the dominant profile method. An integrative summary of findings is followed by recommendations for modifying the methods. (SLD)

Scores from four samples each of 250 and 1,000 physicians demonstrated that a linear procedure for equating scores and rescaling judges' standards for a certification test could be applied to individual item data gathered through the Angoff standard-setting method. Equated and rescaled values were close to those actually assigned. (SLD)

An agenda for research on standards for professional licensure and certification examinations is outlined. The relationship between scores and standards is explored, and major classes of standards are described. Topics for future research are discussed in the areas of judgment basis, process efficiency, group effects, and content and expertise…

Reflects on the process of standards writing conducted by the National of Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association, from both an insider and an outsider perspective. Reflects on the larger forces at play and the deeper issues which derailed the standards effort and which "produced standards that no one has much…

Interviews with 45 key informants involved in development of Britain's National Vocational Qualifications attributed failure to achieve better implementation to institutional constraints: political imperative to manage high youth unemployment, inadequate accountability and supervision, lack of mechanisms to compel implementation, and weakness of…