Standardized Testing

• Reference: Education: Educational Testing  (27)
• Reference: Education: Products and Services: Test Preparation  (276)
• Society: Issues: Education: Education Reform  (145)

Achieve - Organization devoted to improving the rigor and clarity of the process of standard-setting and testing. Provides standard-setting and benchmarking services to states and districts.

ACT, Inc. - The organization responsible for the American College Test, required for admission to the public colleges in the majority of states; manages other tests and programs, too.

AFT - Hot Topics - Standards-Based Reform - Research and opinion from the American Federation of Teachers on standards and standardized tests.

Appropriate Use of High Stakes Testing in Our Nation's Schools - Provides information on the appropriate use of testing in schools. Although testing is a valuable part of educational assessment, when tests are used in high-stakes circumstances, a number of safeguards must be in place.

Buros Institute - The Buros Institute, publishers of The Mental Measurements Yearbook and Tests in Print, provides critical analyses of tests and testing instruments.

College Entrance Examination Board - Organization representing hundreds of colleges responsible for the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), the Advanced Placement (AP) program, and various equity efforts.

ECS: No Child Left Behind (USA) - Relevant resources related to NCLB, both inside ECS and from other external sources.

Education Commission of the States: Assessment - Assessment issue directory from ECS, an organization formed through a bipartisan interstate compact to help state officials study education issues.

Education Consumers Clearinghouse - Provides education's consumers access to information and opinion independent of the education community and sympathetic to the consumer's concerns and priorities.

The Education Trust - EdTrust works for the high academic achievement of all students at all levels, kindergarten through college.

ETS on the Issues - Essays from the maker of the SAT, GRE and other well-known standardized tests.

ETS: Policy Information Reports - Several dozen research reports from the maker of the SAT, GRE and other well-known tests. Reports are authored both by ETS researchers and invited critics.

A Faculty Review of AQIP in Higher Education - An essay by Dr. Frank Edler reviews the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP),an alternative accreditation program associated with the Higher Learning Commission, from a faculty perspective.

Frontline: Secrets of the SAT - Television documentary focusing on the college-entrance Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).

The International Study Center at Boston College - ISC home page, headquarters for research on the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), PIRLS, and other ISC projects.

Measuring What Matters - PDF format report from business/economic development group supportive of testing.

National Assessment Governing Board - Made up of elected and appointed officials; oversees the content and operation of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

The National Assessment of Educational Progress - The "Nation's Report Card" since 1969, assessments have been conducted on national samples of schools periodically in major subject areas.

National Association of Test Directors - An association of professionals with responsibilities for administering assessment programs in K-12 public educational settings. A selection of their research papers and newsletters are available on the site.

National Center for Fair and Open Testing - A nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to preventing the misuse of standardized tests.

National Council on Measurement in Education - The primary U.S. organization of measurement researchers and practitioners involved in educational testing.

National Research Council: Board on Testing and Assessment - The BOTA was created to assist policymakers and the public on issues of testing and assessment in education, the workplace, and the armed services.

NCPA - Education - Testing, International Comparisons and Curriculum - Essays that review news and magazine stories, from the politically conservative National Center for Policy Analysis

OECD PISA Online - The new Programme for International Student Assessment of the OECD, involves dozens of countries testing their 15 year olds' skills and knowledge as they approach the end of compulsory education.

An On-line, Interactive, Computer Adaptive Testing Tutorial - Lawrence Rudner has set up a mock CAT to illustrate how they work, with many citations at the end for further reading.

Peter Sacks - Site maintained by Peter Sacks, author of books and articles about standardized testing, intelligence testing and achievement testing in education and the workplace.

Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation - This on-line journal provides education professionals access to refereed articles that can have a positive impact on assessment, research, evaluation, and teaching practice.

Richard Phelps - Personal site of Richard Phelps which reviews over the books he has written and several other resources.

Statewide Mathematics Assessment in Texas - A comparison of the Texas TAAS test to other standards.

Student Assessment and Testing - Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Equity Center position paper.

Wired News: A D-Minus for Computer Exams - Testing centers are going back to paper in some overseas regions. (August 15, 2002)

When a Test Fails the Schools, Careers and Reputations Suffer - Article accusing a testing company of making scoring mistakes and then covering them up. New York Times. Requires registration. (May 21, 2001)

Right Answer, Wrong Score: Test Flaws Take Toll - Article accusing test development companies of inadequate staffing, quality control, and poor execution. Requires registration. (May 20, 2001)

Rethinking Standardized Testing - Discusses the reasons that some students have chosen to boycott mandatory state standardized tests. Seattle Press. (May 17, 2001)

The Evils of Mandatory Testing - As home schooling grows as a movement, there is increasing political pressure to legislate and control home schoolers. (May 6, 2001)

NCTE.org - On Developing a Test Taker's Bill of Rights - Resolution passed at the NCTE 2000 annual meeting. (2000)

NCTE Moves to Present Own Voice on High-Stakes Testing - Members of the National Council of Teachers of English pass a resolution to encourage continued research regarding the impact of high-stakes testing. (November 20, 1999)

GI Forum, et al. v. Texas - Description of a legal case testing whether testing unfairly discriminates against minorities. (November 1, 1999)

Considerations in Developing and Using Computer-Adaptive Tests to Assess Second Language Proficiency - A paper by Patricia A. Dunkel, Georgia State University. (October, 1999)

Scans: Real Tests for Real Kids - Wired News: Canadian educational software developer Gerry Morgan may have found a way to assess qualities such as creativity, insight, and teamwork. (October 9, 1997)

Brouhaha on National School Testing - Most American parents are being told by local schools that their children rank "above average" in both reading and math. Christian Science Monitor. (September 3, 1997)