An independent catalyst and resource for the improvement of measurement and data systems to enhance student achievement.

Publications

Short Illustrations of the Assessment System Models from the RTTT Assessment Consortium Proposals

In order to help build understanding of the new assessment systems being proposed by Consortia of states under the Race to the Top Assessment Program, the Center has created graphic representations of the proposed systems that each Consortia approved. We hope these are useful to you and to your organization's communications efforts.

Partnership for Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
Click the graphic to download the illustration of the PARCC proposal.

View the complete PARCC proposal
SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)
Click the graphic to download the illustration of the SBAC proposal.

View the complete SBAC proposal

State Consortium on Board Examination Systems (SCOBES) (coming soon)

View the complete SCOBES proposal

National Conference on Next Generation K – 12 Assessment Systems:
March, 2010

The Center developed the agenda for this two-day interactive event that focused on "next generation" assessment systems. Hosted by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) and the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS), the conference engaged more than 275 leaders from states and urban districts across the country, as well as national organizations, foundations and measurement experts, in the exploration of the policy objectives and design features needed in future systems to support improved student achievement.

The conference presented four comprehensive assessment system models developed by some of the best minds in the country, each of which reflected a unique set of priorities, approaches and trade-offs. Stanley Rabinowitz, Martin Orland and Elizabeth Berkes of WestEd completed a comparative summary of the four models. In addition, Andreas Schleicher, who oversees the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and international benchmarking for the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), shared his insights regarding assessment models being used in other nations and his recommendations for future designs.

Click each arrow to view the links to the corresponding documents.

Linda Darling-Hammond and Ray Pecheone, Stanford University: "Developing an Assessment System Of, As, and For Learning"

Marc Tucker, National Center on Education and the Economy: "An Assessment
System For the United States: Why Not Build on the Best?"

Stephen Lazer, Educational Testing Service: "High-Level Model for an Assessment of Common Standards"

Lauren Resnick, University of Pittsburgh, and Larry Berger, Wireless Generation:
"An American Examination System"

Stanley Rabinowitz, Martin Orland and Elizabeth Berkes, WestEd:
"Next Generation Assessment Systems: Comparison of the Four Assessment Systems"

Andreas Schleicher, OECD: "The Future of Assessments: Lessons Learned Internationally"

Exploratory Seminar on Next Generation K – 12 Assessment Systems: December 2009

At the core of the Race to the Top reform initiative are two seemingly simple assessment goals:

  1. Measurement of individual student growth
  2. Assessment feedback that is sufficiently detailed to inform instruction

These are two long-standing and knotty measurement challenges. This two-day agenda brought together national experts in measurement, growth analysis, learning progressions and teacher development to explore and synthesize the current state of the field, the challenges and the most powerful future approaches.

Below are links to the Seminar agenda and research papers produced by the presenters. These include policy brief documents summarizing the key points made by the seminar presenters and discussants. These policy briefs are intended to support state and district education leaders and policymakers.

The documents also include the full research papers written by the presenters. These research resources will provide guidance to support state applications for assessment grant funding and future assessment system development work by states and local districts.

Introduction

Forgione, P.D., & Doorey, N. (2010). New opportunities and old challenges in
measuring student growth and informing instruction. (PDF)

Click each arrow to view the links to the corresponding documents.

Session 1: Research on Measuring Student Growth

Betebenner, D. A., & Linn, R. L. (2010). Growth in student achievement: Issues of measurement, longitudinal data analysis, and accountability.
Pellegrino, J. W. (2010). The design of an assessment system for the Race to the Top: A learning sciences perspective on issues of growth and measurement.
Discussion

Session 2: Research on Using Student Growth Data for Productivity Analyses

Haertel, E. (2010). Student growth data for productivity indicator systems.
Braun, H. (2010). Issues in measuring student growth and conducting productivity analyses.
Meyer, R. H., & Dokumaci, E. (2010). Value-added models and the next generation of assessments.
Discussion

Session 3: Policy Issues in the Measurement of Student Gains

Koretz, D. (2010). Some implications of current policy for educational measurement.
Discussion
  • Policy Brief
  • Gitomer, D. (2010). Some implications of current policy for educational measurement: Discussion comments.
  • Linn, R. (2010). Test score inflation: Comments on "Some implications of current policy for educational measurement" by Daniel Koretz.

Session 4: Research on Informing Instruction

Heritage, M. (2010). Assessment for teaching and learning.
Wilson, M. (2010). Assessment for learning and for accountability.
Resnick, L. (2010). Assessment as a reform tool.
Discussion
  • Policy Brief
  • Bennett, R. E. (2010). Recommendations for high-quality instructional guidance assessment systems and how they might articulate with an accountability system: Discussion.
  • Krehbiel, C. (2010). Comments on papers presented by Margaret Heritage and Lauren Resnick: Recommendations for high-quality instructional assessment systems.

Complete set of seminar papers and policy briefs

Summary

Forgione, P.D., & Doorey, N. (2010). Lessons learned from past assessment system
strategies and promising trends in measuring student growth and informing instruction. (PDF)

Created by Educational Testing Service (ETS) to forward a larger social mission, the Center for K – 12 Assessment & Performance Management has been given the directive to serve as an independent catalyst and resource for the improvement of measurement and data systems to enhance student achievement.