Research shows that the alignment of standards and tests needs to be improved, according to data reported in the American Educational Research Association's (AERA) new quarterly series connecting research to education policy.
"The closer the alignment between state standards and tests, the more likely it is that teachers will focus on the desired content and students will have a fair chance to show what they know," concludes AERA's new research series.
The series, Research Points, brings essential information on education research to public policy-makers and education leaders in the states. The first issue in this series was released Wednesday at AERA's 84th Annual Meeting, attended by approximately 12,000 education researchers.
According to AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine, "AERA established Research Points to help ensure that decision-makers have accessible sound and important research. What we know from research about test alignment is an excellent example because alignment is at the core of standards-based education."
Lauren B. Resnick, the inaugural editor of Research Points, says, "In this premier issue, we offer policy-makers research that supports the best way to evaluate and improve test alignment." Dr. Resnick also is professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, where she directs its Learning Research and Development Center.
"Today's calls for alignment are built upon a foundation of more than 70 years of research on the development, evaluation, and use of tests," Research Points states. "When a test is used to measure the achievement of curriculum standards, it is essential to evaluate and document both the relevance of a test to the standards and the extent to which it represents those standards."
"Because the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires states to align K-12 assessments with their academic standards for what students should know and be able to do, states and school districts now are faced with determining the best way to evaluate and improve test alignment," Dr. Resnick adds.
Research Points outlines four actions that policy-makers should take:
*Think about alignment from the start*Conduct an analysis that uses multiple criteria and agreed-upon procedures*Consider whether the standards themselves need revision*Update their alignment studies whenever the standards or the tests change.
Research Points also highlights common challenges in test alignment, and gives an illustrated example of how small changes in test items can shift cognitive demand. The brief also points out how to know if a test is aligned and how much alignment is enough. A bibliography is provided, too.
In early May, Research Points will be available on AERA's Web site: www.aera.net
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) represents approximately 20,000 educators who conduct research and evaluation in education. Founded in 1916 and based in Washington, D.C., AERA offers a comprehensive program of scholarly publications, training, fellowships, and meetings to advance educational research ,to disseminate knowledge, and to improve the capacity of the profession for the public's good.
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