This book shows the advantages of Rasch measurement (G. Rasch) for school district testing programs. The results of Rasch methods are contrasted with conventional statistics for assessing student responses to basic skills testing. Chapter 1 shows how the Rasch probability-based method produces measures that are more useful for students, parents, teachers, administrators, and researchers than the information produced by conventional population-based statistics. Chapter 2 discusses the technology for designing and maintaining a large bank of curriculum test items that facilitate a reliable and precise measure of a student's ability growth between fall and spring and from year-to-year. Chapter 3 presents a dozen research projects comparing conventional grade-level tests with Rasch calibrated levels-tests. Their findings support the use of the Rasch testing model. Chapter 4 offers a set of statistical comparisons of groups that can be useful to school district administrators. (Contains 12 tables, 22 figures, and 19 references.) (Author/SLD)