ERIC Number: ED594590
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Dec
Pages: 72
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Validating Career-Readiness Features in High School Assessments. CRESST Report 860
Kao, Jenny C.; Rivera, Nichole M.; Clemens, Brettany; Cai, Li
National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST)
This report is the fourth in a series considering career-readiness factors within existing high school assessments. The primary goal of this study was to provide a preliminary validation of the career-readiness features identified in prior reports by exploring how different participant groups with different levels of experience in the career/vocational world perform on a selection of test items with high numbers of career-readiness features. Two exemplar careers, emergency medical technician (EMT) and web developer, were targeted for participation in this study. A total of 103 high school students, 111 community college students studying to become either EMTs or web developers, and 84 working EMTs or web developers participated in the study. A selection of ELA and math test items rated for career-readiness features were adapted into an 18-item test booklet. As expected, results indicated that workforce individuals scored significantly higher on the test than community college students, who in turn scored significantly higher on the test than high school students. These results suggest that having added experience in their field may lead to refining certain career-readiness skills found in high-school-level content-based assessments. Preparation for such assessments can help high school students prepare for college and/or a career, and inferences for both college and career readiness can be drawn from test performance.
Descriptors: Career Readiness, Test Validity, Student Evaluation, High School Students, Test Items, Emergency Medical Technicians, Web Sites, Two Year College Students, Scores, Job Skills, College Readiness, Grade 12, Self Efficacy, Item Response Theory, Language Arts, Mathematics
National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST). 300 Charles E Young Drive N, GSE&IS Building 3rd Floor, Mailbox 951522, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1522. Tel: 310-206-1532; Fax: 310-825-3883; Web site: http://www.cresst.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education; Two Year Colleges; Grade 12
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Department of Education (ED)
Authoring Institution: National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST)
Grant or Contract Numbers: S368A150011
Author Affiliations: N/A