A Rigorous Approach to Auditing Statewide Assessment Systems: Lessons Learned from Two States
In response to the Testing Action Plan (released in 2015), states have improved their test development processes, introduced technological enhancements, and implemented more efficient test methods to improve assessment quality and efficiency. States have also recently begun conducting inventories of their assessment systems to examine the alignment between assessments and content standards, identify inefficiencies resulting from assessments with overlapping purposes, and measure the usefulness of results reported to school stakeholders. This NCSA session described a comprehensive and rigorous approach for conducting assessment inventories; presented key findings and lessons learned from the two states that conducted audits; and described how these states addressed cultural, procedural, and political challenges related to implementing audit recommendations and, ultimately, to improving their assessment systems.