Chapter 14: Classroom Assessment, Grading, and Standardized Testing

 

 

 In Hillcrest County, schools are held accountable for student learning through the requirement that all students take a standardised norm-referenced group test called the National Achievement Test (NAT). Results are examined by district administrators and published in the local newspaper. At Dexter Elementary, a new reading program was implemented in the primary grades this year, and it was found to raise students’ performance on individually administered reading tests by about 20 percentage points.  Ms. Manetti, the school principal, noted that there was no gain on the NAT reading scores for those classes. Therefore, she decides to discontinue the new reading program.

 

1.        How would the NAT and the Hillcrest individual reading tests differ with regard to the type of information obtained about reading performance?

 

2.        Assuming that both are well -constructed tests, which one would be likely to provide the more valid information? Explain.

 

3.        Do you agree with Ms. Manetti's decision? Explain your answer.

 

An angry parent says to Ms. Manetti, "Look at Jennifer's NAT scores," the mother said. "I had asked at the beginning of the year that Jennifer should skip fourth grade and be put into the fifth grade. These scores tell me that I was right." to Ms. Manetti examines the scores and sees the following:

 

Jennifer Smith 4th Grade: November 13, 2004

 

Subject                    T-Score                   G-E Score

Math                       51                            5.0                                                                                          

Reading                   59                            5.8                          

Science                    48                            4.3

Writing                    53                            5.1

 

 

4.        Interpret Jennifer's T-score of 59. Based on normal curve properties, what is her approximate percentile rank? Describe how you determined her percentile rank.

 

5.        Characterize Jennifer's overall achievement. How is she achieving in the various subjects relative to other students in her norm group? Based on these results, react to the parent's argument. Do Jennifer's performances justify acceleration to a higher grade? Explain why or why not.

 

6.        How did your reflections on this case study prepare you to become more responsibly engaged in the world?