Paul Barton, Educational Testing Service
December 2004
This is a sage analysis of important but neglected elements of standards-based reform, organized under six headings: "alignment," the challenge of setting passing-scores ("cut-scores"), accountability issues, "teaching and the test," how to use assessment to inform instruction as well as to report on performance, and the need to pay greater (and more sophisticated) attention to high-school completion rates as a key barometer of success. Author Paul Barton is perceptive, wise, and straightforward, and the many suggestions, proven practices, and cautions offered herein will richly repay the attention of anyone who wants standards-based reform to succeed?and not to slay innocents via "friendly fire." I was particularly struck by his excellent discussion of teaching in an era of high-stakes testing and his thoughtful take on "growth" measures. (Value-added tracking of individual kids is not the only plausible way to do this.) You can find it here.
