This paper makes the case that value added assessment (VAA) is one potential tool for increasing the accuracy of inferences regarding school effects, even though it is far from being a panacea. The promise of VAA rests in its focus on individual growth trajectories and its perceived ability to isolate the influence of a school from other factors…

This paper describes a process and an organizational structure in which Institutional Effectiveness (IE) can thrive. When such a system is implemented, continuous quality improvement can be sustained for the long term. Key concepts and philosophies found in the literature regarding continuous quality improvement and assessment in higher education…

Students in Durham, North Carolina, who do not perform on grade level in grades 3, 5, and 8 must attend an 18-day summer school. End-of-grade tests in reading and math, given twice, and teacher ratings of achievement level determine who must attend. An end-of-grade test given when the summer session concludes decides whether the student is…

This Digest addresses the benefits of formative assessment and provides examples and resources to support its implementation. Formative assessment is the diagnostic use of assessment to provide feedback to teachers and students over the course of instruction. Since the goal of formative assessment is to gain an understanding of what students know…

This collection is designed to assist new and experienced faculty members who are teaching in interdisciplinary settings and who want to advance the integrative learning of their students and administrators who want to encourage integrative and interdisciplinary teaching in their institutions. Following an introduction, Laying a Foundation for…

This study examined whether charter schools in Arizona were accomplishing the goals communicated in their charter applications and explored the evolutionary nature of charter schools. Forty highly varied charter schools in Arizona were tracked over 5 years of continuous operation, from 1995 to 2000. Interviews lasting 4 hours were arranged at each…

Assessment procedures for school principals need to be valid, reliable, and utilitarian. They should emphasize the humane elements of the school setting, and they should reflect a concern for a safe school environment. Breaking these requirements into component parts allows the development of five-point Likert scales teachers may use to assess…

Artistic endeavors can be planned for and used wisely in ongoing science lessons and units of study. Criteria in rubric form could be developed to assess student art projects and processes, and art in science might become part of a student's portfolio. Art can be a method of learning science subject matter as well as a skills objective stressing…

Advances in cognitive psychology deepen the understanding of how students gain and use knowledge. Advances in technology make it possible to capture more complex performances in assessment settings, by including, for example, simulation, interactivity, collaboration, and constructed response. The challenge is in knowing just how to put this new…

This document describes ways to facilitate reflection and planning in challenging areas of school reform. It outlines a process, "image-making," that is based on research conducted with high-poverty schools that made substantial reforms over time. Image-making helps initiate thoughtful dialogue among adults in the school community by using…

This book offers a comprehensive program of holistic accountability for educators, school board members, school leaders, and parents. Holistic accountability systems yield information about curriculum, assessment, and instruction that can lead to better practices, better decision making, and higher student achievement. The chapters are: (1) "What…

This book explores the links between assessment and instruction and provides a jargon-free look at classroom and large-scale test construction, interpretation, and application. The book offers a "crash course" in instructionally focused assessment with practical advice for dealing with testing targets and standards-based achievement tests. The…

Papers in this collection were commissioned for a workshop designed to share advances in the cognitive sciences and methods of measurement and their implications for improving educational assessment. A second goal of the workshop was to delve into the role that technology could play in bringing these advances together. The papers are: (1)…

This second edition contains updated and refreshed material on the problems caused by the current grading system and contains new information on assessment, standards, and social promotion. The chapters are: (1) Overview; (2) History of Grades; (3) Myths about Grades; (4) Normal Variation in Academic Ability; (5) The Lock-Step Curriculum; (6) The…

Three groups of persons are involved in the testing enterprise: test producers, test users, and test takers. A wide literature is available to guide the first two groups, but only recently have measurement professionals considered the interests of test takers in any careful way. The content of this chapter is presented as a set of 26…