There are dozens of myths surrounding educational reform today, maintaining the school's role in economic competitiveness, the deficiency of teachers, the benefits of increased testing, and the worthiness of privatization. In this volume, the editors argue that this discussion has been co-opted to reflect the values and worldviews of special interest groups such as elites in power, politicians, corporate educational foundations, and the media. Prominent educational writers tackle contemporary issues such as neoliberalism, suburban schooling, charter schools and parental involvement. They expose the "logic behind the talk" and critically examine these problematic beliefs to uncover meaningful improvements in education which are better grounded in the social, economic, political and educational realities of contemporary society.

Model Cornerstone Assessments (MCAs), that were developed for the National Core Arts Standards in Music, are curriculum-embedded measures designed for music students to apply relevant knowledge and skills while demonstrating learning in the standards that define the artistic processes. They are meant to engage students in tasks authentic to a school's curriculum and honor the intent of the Music Performance Standards. They are created as models to allow for usefulness in a variety of curricular contexts and demographics. The intent of each MCA is to provide research-based assessment tasks that is specifically focused on the expected learning for the performance standards with rubrics that has been tested for scoring consistency. Following substantial development and piloting in schools across the United States, this book provides a thorough background of the MCAs and the confidence measures administered to guide implementation by teachers, administrators, and the educational community.

Parents had questions about the tests their children took at school. They considered them to be common sense questions. They posed them to the businesspeople, publishers, and politicians who championed tests. They also posed them to the school administrators, teachers, and union leaders who criticized them. This book examines the questions the parents posed, the answers they elicited, and the changes they prodded.

Key Concepts in Educational Assessment provides expert definitions and interpretations of common terms within the policy and practice of educational assessment. Concepts such as validity, assessment for learning, measurement, comparability and differentiation are discussed, and there is broad coverage of UK and international terminology. Drawing on the considerable expertise of the authors, the entries provide:

- clear definitions

- accounts of the key issues

- authoritative and reliable information

- suggestions for further reading

Created to support students of education on undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and established education professionals including those who are members of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA), this book is an accessible guide for anyone engaged in educational assessment.

Tina Isaacs is Director of the MA in Educational Assessment at the Institute of Education, London.

Catherine Zara was most recently Director of the MA in Educational Assessment and Director of the BA (Hons) in Post Compulsory Education and Training at the University of Warwick.

Graham Herbert was most recently Director of the CIEA.

Steve J. Coombs is Head of Department for Continuing Professional Development at Bath Spa University, which offers an MA in Educational Assessment.

Charles Smith is senior lecturer in economics and education at Swansea Metropolitan University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

There has been an increase in awareness (and perhaps occurrence) of individual and organized cheating on tests. Recent reports of widespread problems with state student accountability tests and teacher certification testing have raised questions about the very validity of assessment programs. While there are several books that specifically detail the issues of test security cheating on assessments, few outline the statistical procedures used for detecting various types of potential test fraud and the associated research findings. Without a significant research literature base, the new generation of researchers will have little opportunity or incentive to improve on existing methods. Enlisting a variety of experts and scholars in different fields of testing, this edited volume expands on the current literature base by including examples of detailed research findings arrived at by statistical methodology. It also provides a synthesis of the current state of the art with regard to the statistical detection of testing infidelity, particularly for large-scale assessments. By presenting methods currently used by testing organizations and research on new methods, the volume offers an important forum for expanding the literature in this area.

There have been many important changes in the participation of women and men in American society over the past quarter-century. Tests play a role in those changes by providing evidence of the diverse achievement and proficiency of women and men. They aid the learning process and reflect inequalities in opportunity to learn and participate. In addition, they provide useful information in considering what alternatives in education and work make most sense for individuals and influence views about groups of students, educational programs, and a wide range of issues. For all of these reasons, it is important that tests assess fairly and reflect accurately the ways young people are and are not achieving as well as desired. The test performance of women and men is a research topic of historical interest and has received much attention in recent years. Because of this increased interest, there is a great deal of new research and data available. The purpose of the study presented in this volume was to review this new information with two objectives in mind: *to clarify patterns of gender difference and similarity in test performance and related achievements, and *to see what implications those findings might have for fair assessment and, as a corollary, examine the assessment process as a possible source of gender differences. This study is interested in tests used in education to assess developed knowledge and skill. In order to gain a broader view of gender similarity and difference, the contributors looked at other types of measures and other characteristics of young women and men. Their hope is to contribute to a firmer basis for insuring fairness in tests--an objective which is particularly important as the field moves increasingly to new forms of assessment in which there is less experience.

This volume explores the application of computer simulation technology to measurement issues in education -- especially as it pertains to problem based learning. Whereas most assessments related to problem solving are based on expensive and time consuming measures (i.e., think-aloud protocols or performance assessments that require extensive human rater scoring), this book relies on computerization of the major portion of the administration, scoring, and reporting of problem-solving assessments. It is appropriate for researchers, instructors and graduate students in educational assessment, educational technology, and educational psychology.

Decision-Oriented Educational Research considers a form of educational research that is designed to be directly relevant to the current information requirements of those who are shaping educational policy or managing edu cational systems. It was written for those who plan to conduct such research, as well as for policy makers and educational administrators who might have such research conducted for them. The book is divided into three main parts. Part I is background. Chapter 1 describes some of the basic themes that are woven throughout subsequent chapters on decision-oriented research. These themes include the impor tance of taking a systems view of educational research; of understanding the nature of decision and policy processes and how these influence system re search; of integrating research activities into the larger system's processes; of the role of management in the research process; of researchers and managers sharing a sense of educational purposes; and of emphasizing system improvement as a basic goal of research process. Chapter 2 is a discussion of the background of the research activities that form the bases of this book. Our collaboration with the Pittsburgh public school system is described, as are the methods and structure we used to build the case histories of our work with the district. Part II, encompassing chapters 3 through 9, addresses basic generaliza tions about decision-oriented educational research that we have derived from our experiences."

The rising reliance on testing in American education and for licensure and certification has been accompanied by an escalation in cheating on tests at all levels. Edited by two of the foremost experts on the subject, the Handbook of Quantitative Methods for Detecting Cheating on Tests offers a comprehensive compendium of increasingly sophisticated data forensics used to investigate whether or not cheating has occurred. Written for practitioners, testing professionals, and scholars in testing, measurement, and assessment, this volume builds on the claim that statistical evidence often requires less of an inferential leap to conclude that cheating has taken place than do other, more common sources of evidence. This handbook is organized into sections that roughly correspond to the kinds of threats to fair testing represented by different forms of cheating. In Section I, the editors outline the fundamentals and significance of cheating, and they introduce the common datasets to which chapter authors' cheating detection methods were applied. Contributors describe, in Section II, methods for identifying cheating in terms of improbable similarity in test responses, preknowledge and compromised test content, and test tampering. Chapters in Section III concentrate on policy and practical implications of using quantitative detection methods. Synthesis across methodological chapters as well as an overall summary, conclusions, and next steps for the field are the key aspects of the final section.

Test Anxiety adapts the previous edition to the influence of structural equations modeling that has taken hold of test anxiety research, while maintaining the applied research, assessment, and treatment interventions. This book integrates statistical methodology and research design with actual research situations that occur within the test anxiety area. It brings together more than 100 studies that have been published on test anxiety since 1993. Marty Sapp introduces the logics of structural equations and shows how the EQS structural equations program can easily perform structural equations modeling. He presents two statistical packages, SPSSX and SAS, for use in conducting test anxiety research and developing actual empirically based treatment interventions. This allows an easy analysis using common factors such as Sarason's four-factor model or Spielberger's two-factor model. Test Anxiety provides a practical, cutting edge resource for conducting and assessing test anxiety research.

This book concerns itself with the daily dilemmas of the elementary school principal and understanding the practical application of school leadership while improving the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (2015) competency. In order to improve PSEL (2015) competency, each case study is aligned to multiple standards. The case studies in this book can be a powerful tool for learning school leadership. It gives readers the opportunity to gain experience making decisions in the face of uncertainty, much as they will have to do every day when they are in the field or when they are ready to work in their chosen field. The result of candid interviews with school officials in America's public schools, school improvement organizations, city and state departments of education, the case studies in this book explore complex issues in school leadership from school budget management to navigating parental concerns in the social media age. Each case study tells a detailed story which stops mid-action, asking the reader to imagine themselves into the shoes of a decision-maker facing a tough choice. As a result of these case studies classroom discussions are lively, and most important, there isn't a single right answer. Readers practice taking positions and defending them based on the available evidence, while developing communication and critical thinking skills. This book is a must read for any emerging school leader.

Self-assessment is increasingly used in higher education as a strategy for both student learning and assessment. This book examines the full range of concerns about self-assessment, placing it in the wider context of innovative teaching and learning practices.

Citing developmental characteristics of each grade level, A Complete Guide to Rubrics presents examples and adaptations of assessment rubrics on a variety of subjects. It features examples of teacher-created rubrics, Internet resources, and additional chapters devoted to assessing technological topics, including blogging. This book will be of interest to all educators who are required to assess student performance.

This user-friendly guide shows school leaders how to use formative assessment to improve both student and teacher achievement. With step-by-step information and practical examples, this book will help you develop better assessments that will transform your school. You will learn: The advantages of formative assessment When and why to use formative assessment How to develop valid and reliable assessments How to mimic the state assessment schedule How to organize and use data effectively How to use data to develop teacher leaders The appendix features more than ten pages of handy reproducibles that will help you implement formative assessments immediately (also available as free downloads www.routledge.com/9781596672468). A curriculum pacing guide A presentation template to explain formative assessment to your staff A non-mastery report A class item analysis graph A class profile graph A student questionnaire, and more!

This practical, very effective resource helps middle and high school teachers and curriculum leaders develop the skills to design instructional tasks and assessments that engage students in higher-level critical thinking, as recommended by the Common Core State Standards. Real examples of formative and summative assessments from a variety of content areas are included and demonstrate how to successfully increase the level of critical thinking in every classroom! This book is also an excellent resource for higher education faculty to use in undergraduate and graduate courses on assessment and lesson planning.

Bring SAT Math prep into the classroom to enhance student learning! In this new copublication from Routledge and test-prep experts A-List Education, you'll learn how the updated SAT exam is closely aligned with the Common Core, making it easy to weave test prep into your curriculum and help students hone the skills they need for college readiness. The book is filled with practical examples of how the Common Core State Standards are connected to specific sections, question types, and strategies applicable to the SATs, so you can simultaneously prepare your students for the test while improving their overall math and reasoning skills.

Bring ACT ELA prep into the classroom to enhance student learning! In this new copublication from Routledge and test-prep experts A-List Education, you'll learn how the updated ACT exam is closely aligned with the Common Core, making it easy to weave test prep into your curriculum and help students hone the skills they need for college readiness. The book is filled with practical examples of how the Common Core State Standards are connected to specific sections, question types, and strategies applicable to the ACT, so you can simultaneously prepare your students for the test while improving their reading, writing, and language skills.

Bring ACT ELA prep into the classroom to enhance student learning! In this new copublication from Routledge and test-prep experts A-List Education, you'll learn how the updated ACT exam is closely aligned with the Common Core, making it easy to weave test prep into your curriculum and help students hone the skills they need for college readiness. The book is filled with practical examples of how the Common Core State Standards are connected to specific sections, question types, and strategies applicable to the ACT, so you can simultaneously prepare your students for the test while improving their reading, writing, and language skills.

First published in 1992. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Bring ACT Math and Science prep into the classroom to enhance student learning! In this new copublication from Routledge and test-prep experts A-List Education, you'll learn how the updated ACT exam is closely aligned with the Common Core, making it easy to weave test prep into your curriculum and help students hone the skills they need for college readiness. The book is filled with practical examples of how the Common Core State Standards are connected to specific sections, question types, and strategies applicable to the ACT, so you can simultaneously prepare your students for the test while improving their overall math, science, and reasoning skills.

Bring ACT Math and Science prep into the classroom to enhance student learning! In this new copublication from Routledge and test-prep experts A-List Education, you'll learn how the updated ACT exam is closely aligned with the Common Core, making it easy to weave test prep into your curriculum and help students hone the skills they need for college readiness. The book is filled with practical examples of how the Common Core State Standards are connected to specific sections, question types, and strategies applicable to the ACT, so you can simultaneously prepare your students for the test while improving their overall math, science, and reasoning skills.

This book concerns itself with the daily dilemmas of the elementary school principal and understanding the practical application of school leadership while improving the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (2015) competency. In order to improve PSEL (2015) competency, each case study is aligned to multiple standards. The case studies in this book can be a powerful tool for learning school leadership. It gives readers the opportunity to gain experience making decisions in the face of uncertainty, much as they will have to do every day when they are in the field or when they are ready to work in their chosen field. The result of candid interviews with school officials in America's public schools, school improvement organizations, city and state departments of education, the case studies in this book explore complex issues in school leadership from school budget management to navigating parental concerns in the social media age. Each case study tells a detailed story which stops mid-action, asking the reader to imagine themselves into the shoes of a decision-maker facing a tough choice. As a result of these case studies classroom discussions are lively, and most important, there isn't a single right answer. Readers practice taking positions and defending them based on the available evidence, while developing communication and critical thinking skills. This book is a must read for any emerging school leader.

Model Cornerstone Assessments (MCAs), that were developed for the National Core Arts Standards in Music, are curriculum-embedded measures designed for music students to apply relevant knowledge and skills while demonstrating learning in the standards that define the artistic processes. They are meant to engage students in tasks authentic to a school's curriculum and honor the intent of the Music Performance Standards. They are created as models to allow for usefulness in a variety of curricular contexts and demographics. The intent of each MCA is to provide research-based assessment tasks that is specifically focused on the expected learning for the performance standards with rubrics that has been tested for scoring consistency. Following substantial development and piloting in schools across the United States, this book provides a thorough background of the MCAs and the confidence measures administered to guide implementation by teachers, administrators, and the educational community.

Educational systems around the world look to student assessment programs as they initiate reforms and revise educational policies to increase student achievement. This edited volume examines the intersection of international achievement testing and education policy development in key countries around the world, exploring how assessments can inform curriculum, pedagogy, strategic planning, and ultimately determine large-scale education policy and governance. Noted chapter contributors explore how educational leadership and governance issues have been influenced by assessment programs across a range of political, economic, cultural, and educational contexts. The Intersection of International Achievement Testing and Education Policy provides educators, academics, and policymakers with cultural insights, historical contexts, and a framework for negotiating and understanding the consequences of educational policy decisions in schools.

Educational systems around the world look to student assessment programs as they initiate reforms and revise educational policies to increase student achievement. This edited volume examines the intersection of international achievement testing and education policy development in key countries around the world, exploring how assessments can inform curriculum, pedagogy, strategic planning, and ultimately determine large-scale education policy and governance. Noted chapter contributors explore how educational leadership and governance issues have been influenced by assessment programs across a range of political, economic, cultural, and educational contexts. The Intersection of International Achievement Testing and Education Policy provides educators, academics, and policymakers with cultural insights, historical contexts, and a framework for negotiating and understanding the consequences of educational policy decisions in schools.