Testing and Accountability

New Orleans Students Post Gains on State Tests

Updated: May 7, 2008 Despite the encouraging progress, students in the state-run Recovery School District remain academically troubled, especially in high school.

‘Value Added’ Pioneer Says Stinging Critique of Method Is Off-Base

Updated: May 6, 2008 The statistician who pioneered the use of “value added” research techniques is disputing a critique of his approach that was published recently in a prominent academic journal.

Reading First Doesn't Help Pupils 'Get it'

Updated: May 6, 2008 The $1 billion-a-year program has had no measurable effect on students’ reading comprehension, on average, a major federal report finds.

College Board and Test-Prep Firm Settle Lawsuit

April 30, 2008, AP A Texas company agrees to pay $1 million for its use of SAT and PSAT practice questions to help prepare its customers.

Risk Report’s Anniversary Prompts Reflection

April 29, 2008 The 25th anniversary of A Nation At Risk should give federal policymakers the opportunity to reconsider the current federal approach, one influential lawmaker said last week.

News Briefs

Test Scores in Big-City Schools Seen to Be on Upswing

April 29, 2008 The nation’s urban students posted gains on their reading and mathematics exams in 2007 to continue a trend of improving achievement.

New York Lawmakers Vote to Bar Linking Tenure to Students’ Scores

April 15, 2008

U.S. Dept. of Ed. Awards Grants to Cover Fees for AP, IB Exams

March 25, 2008 The department will award $11 million in grants to 39 states to help low-income students cover costs associated with the tests.

Baltimore Schools to Pay Students for Gains on State Graduation Test

January 29, 2008

Tying Cash Awards to AP-Exam Scores Seen as Paying Off

January 14, 2008 As money-for-achievement programs grow, the debate over whether remuneration works in education and what the trade-offs are sharpens.

Academic Achievement

December 18, 2007 Low proficiency rates on national assessments, for example, do not spell the failure that many observers claim, says a study.

More News Briefs

Blue-Ribbon Schools Program: Why We Should Bring It Back

April 29, 2008 School culture and test scores are both important in giving schools the "Blue Ribbon" designation, the authors argue.

Nebraska Education Sees Policy, Leadership Shifts

April 29, 2008 For a state with a small enrollment, Nebraska is looking at some big changes in education policy—and those who set it.

Forum Seeks A New Vision for U.S. Role

April 23, 2008 The Forum for Education and Democracy report calls for moving away from k-12 tests and sanctions and, instead, do what other countries with high student achievement do.

Rewards and Mediocrity: State-Testing Questions

April 22, 2008 With so much national focus on standardized tests, why haven’t I heard much conversation about the use of incentives before test administration?

America Scouts Overseas to Boost Education Skills

April 22, 2008

Trends in the European Union: Education Seen Driving Prosperity

April 22, 2008

No Child Left Behind Faces Changes

April 22, 2008, AP

Playing Catch-Up

April 8, 2008

More Students Master ‘Basics’ on Writing NAEP

Updated: April 9, 2008

Commentary

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April 1, 2008

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