CRESST / U C L A Slide 1, Implementing No Child Left Behind: Assessment Issues Joan L. Herman UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST) National Conference of State Legislatures San Francisco, CA July 23, 2003
CRESST / U C L A Slide 2, Overview è Overview of symbolic and technical uses of assessment in NCLB è Research evidence on how accountability is working è Advice on how accountability can work better?
CRESST / U C L A Slide 3,
CRESST / U C L A Slide 4,
CRESST / U C L A Slide 5, Effects of Testing on Teaching and Learning è Tests focus on instruction è Teachers model what is assessed è Test scores show initial increases è BUT… è Teachers focus on test, not standards è What is not tested becomes invisible
CRESST / U C L A Slide 6, Selected Technical Issues è Alignment of tests with standards is uneven è Questions about whether test score increases represent real learning è Issues reliability of AYP scores è Feasibility of AYP goals
CRESST / U C L A Slide 7, Suggestions è Assure alignment è Encourage multiple measures è Encourage regular monitoring of student progress è Assure teacher capacity è Promote reform in ways that support social capital, not just intellectual capital