Educational assessment, evaluation and accountability

The Design and Evaluation of Educational Assessment and Accountability Systems

Almost every state has in place a state assessment and accountability system. These systems vary greatly in their characteristics, but share a common global purpose of improving teaching and learning. Some of the variations in the state systems are discussed and illustrated with examples from selected states. Issues that are critical to the value and interpretation of results such as the use, i...

Vertical Scaling in Standards-Based Educational Assessment and Accountability Systems

This paper describes vertical scaling as a method for linking a set of test forms of increasing difficulty, and explores the applicability of these methods for standards-based educational achievement tests under status-based and growth-based accountability priorities. The purpose of the paper is to inform state policy-makers and assessment and accountability specialists about vertical scaling m...

Designing Accountability Assessments for Teaching - Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation

We argue (1) that the domains of externally mandated tests should be transparent to teachers, (2) that test maps can be used to communicate with teachers, and (3) that the most effective test maps express domains in terms of combinations of what students know and can do. We propose a device called a heuristic as the lowest level of specificity in a test map, and criteria to achieve a balance be...

Educational Accountability and Assessment in Florida: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?

The Confusing World of Educational Accountability

Accountability has been a watchword in education for decades—for who could be against it? It has not been a reality, however, because accountability is threatening to many and because, even when desired, it is difficult to implement. There are signs, however, that times are changing. Today, accountability is not only taken more seriously but also sometimes promises to have real teeth. Yet, the ...