Author: FairTest

Introduction: At its best, the idea of adequate yearly progress (AYP) is an effort to prod schools, districts and states to identify and solve two kinds of problems: schools in which most students perform well but some students do not, particularly low-income or minority-group students; and schools in which most students do not meet high […]

Promoting Sound Assessment – a paper prepared by FairTest for the American Association of School Administrators, published on our website with permission. By Monty Neill, Ed.D.Co-Executive DirectorFairTest As implemented in all but a few states, NCLB accountability requirements are based almost entirely on state standardized tests. Thus, schools are rated and face sanctions on the […]

by Monty Neill, Ed.D., Executive Director, FairTest Five major national education organizations convened the Commission on Instructionally Supportive Assessment (2001 – find links there), chaired by James Popham and including prominent measurement and education experts. The Commission’s report, Building Tests To Support Instruction and Accountability: A Guide for Policymakers, offers some sound advice which, if […]

The following language changes to Title I, Part A, section 1111 of NCLB would encourage more productive assessments: 1. Paragraph (b)(3) ACADEMIC ASSESSMENTS-Summary of key changes: limit mandated state assessments to three grade levels in reading/language arts and mathematics; clarify that assessments shall be standards-based, use multiple measures including performance assessments, and ensure assessment of […]

George H. Wood Director, The Forum for Education and Democracy Principal, Federal Hocking High School, Stewart, Ohio Linda Darling-Hammond Charles E. Ducommun Professor, Stanford University Co-Director, School Redesign Network Monty Neill Co-Director, Fair Test (National Center for Fair & Open Testing) Pat Roschewski Director of Statewide Assessment Nebraska Department of Education May 16, 2007 For […]

The Forum on Educational Accountability (FEA) has been formed to expand on and advance the ideas in the “Joint Organizational Statement on No Child Left Behind” to improve federal education policy. The Joint Statement has been signed by 143 national education, civil rights, religious, children’s, disability, and civic organizations, representing more than 50 million members. […]

The Forum on Educational Accountability (FEA) has been formed to expand on and advance the ideas in the “Joint Organizational Statement on No Child Left Behind” to improve federal education policy. The Joint Statement has been signed by 143 national education, civil rights, religious, children’s, disability, and civic organizations, representing more than 50 million members. […]

By George N. Schmidt [The following article will be published on page one of the October issue of Substance. Substance will be mailed to readers on Thursday, October 3, 2002]. Twelve English and Social Studies teachers from Chicago’s massive Curie Metropolitan High School have informed Chicago schools Chief Executive Officer Arne Duncan that they intend […]

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT A NEW OR REVISED EXAM WILL PREDICT COLLEGE GRADES MORE ACCURATELY THAN CURRENT TESTS DO? The manufacturers of both the SAT and ACT admit that a student’s high school grades provide better forecasts of undergraduate performance than their tests do. How will changing the format or contents of an entrance […]

May 9, 2002 Governor Gray DavisState CapitolGovernor’s OfficeSacramento, CA 95814 Dear Governor Gray Davis: On Wednesday, May 15, 2002 the University of California Board of Regents is scheduled to be briefed about possible “new” admissions tests by the College Board, ACT, and the Board on Academic Relations with Schools. To help you prepare for this […]