Over the years, the nation has witnessed a wide range of proposals to change the structure and content of education and employment preparation programs. A major impetus for reform efforts has been recognizing that many high school graduates' knowledge and skills fall short of what is required in high-performance workplaces. Despite different approaches to reform, all sides agree on the need for trustworthy methods for assessing whether students are making progress towards desired outcomes. This practitioner÷s guide will help teachers, administrators, and district- or state-level educators make decisions about appropriate strategies for individual student assessment. The materials address various trade-offs to consider in reviewing current assessment strategies, revising them, and developing and phasing in new ones.
MDS-947 / June 1997