1. Chapters 5
Formal Assessment

2. Formal Measures Assess isolated skills Cannot capture the process
Not authentic
Rarely consider attitudes or habits
Measure low level skills

3. Characteristics of Formal Tests
Reliability – how stable the test scores are.
Can you repeat the test and get the same result
Validity – does it measure what we think it measures?

4. Distribution of test scores
Normal Distribution – the bell curve
P. 152
Skewed distribution – p. 153
Mode – frequency of scores
Median – the center point
Range – lowest to highest
Standard Deviation – p. 154

5. Forms of Test Scores
Grade-Equivalent Scores – Student correctly answered the same number of questions as the average ___ grader in the ____ month of the ____ year.
NOT AN INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL
If this is an 4th grade test and you did as well as a 12th grader would do on a 4th grade test, it does not mean you are at the 12th grade level.
Percentile Scores – 1-99
Relative performance compared with a normed group.
Stanines – “standard nines” Range is divide into 9 sections.

6. Norm Referenced Tests
Achievement Tests – MAT, CTBS, Standford, CAT

7. Criterion Referenced Tests
Measure progress towards a goal or criteria
Basic example…spelling test
Everyone can earn “100”

8. Benchmarks and Rubrics
Benchmark – behavior standards and academic standards
Describe what students are expected to do
Used more broadly in our area to measure a yardstick by which all are measured.

9. State Standards and Assessments
Common Core State Standards
PSSA
Keystones