| Home | |
About |
|
NCLB |
|
Resources |
|
Events |
|
Contact |
|
State Assessment and Accountability Systems
AACC Resources
Resources developed by the AACC to help regional centers and states improve their assessments and accountability systems.
New York Formative Assessment Technical Assistance Study
The NY Formative Assessment Technical Assistance Study is a pilot study that weds expertise at the national, regional, state, and district levels. Selected materials generated through this ongoing study are provided and will be updated as the study progresses.
Reviewed Resources
Includes knowledge (frequently research reports), products and tools, guidance, and services that are recommended by an expert committee. The rating form and method are aligned to ratings from other comprehensive content centers. A comprehensive glossary provides many additional details about the AACC rating process.
Assessment Continuum of Schoolwide Improvement Outcomes
Author/Provider: Allen, W., Beltran Avery, M., Matsumoto, C., Hamilton, S., Worthley, D., Russell Ciardi, M., & Allen-Malley, M. New England Comprehensive Assistance Center
Resource Type: Product or Tool
Cost: $49.95
Length: 130 pages
Website: http://www2.edc.org/necac/resources/pubs/continuum.htm
Resource Summary: As their website describes: “The New England Comprehensive Assistance Center offers you a dynamic guide to self-assess, monitor, and engage in continual, systemic improvement for increased student achievement.” The tool contains several features to help school systems develop assessments to reinforce improvement.
Full Citation: Allen, W., Beltran Avery, M., Matsumoto, C., Hamilton, S., Worthley, D., Russell Ciardi, M., & Allen-Malley, M. (2002). Assessment Continuum of Schoolwide Improvement Outcomes. New England Comprehensive Assistance Center.
Selected Reviewer Comments: “This resource is a means to facilitate the move toward interagency and community collaboration in order to improve school wide student achievement. The directions are straightforward and uncomplicated, as well as the forms (both short and long forms) themselves.”
“This tool would be helpful to schools undergoing comprehensive school reform.”
Designing School Accountability Systems: Towards a Framework and Process
Author/Provider: Gong, B., Blank, R.K., & Manise, J.G. Council of Chief State School Officers
Resource Type: Guidance
Cost: Free
Length: 32 pages
Website: http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/designing_school_acct_syst.pdf
Resource Summary: The objective of the study, as described by the authors, is to “assist states in making decisions about designs for accountability systems” (p.1). Furthermore, the resource shows “three different views of accountability design to address states needs” (p.2).
- “an elaborated framework with questions, criteria, and comments, intended to provide a structure for helping states move through the process of designing a school accountability system” (p.2).
- “a concise checklist of characteristics to help states evaluate the consistency and coherence of existing programs” (p.2).
- “examples of the actual state experience with design features that might be considered and why” (p.2).
Full Citation: Gong, B., Blank, R.K., & Manise, J.G. (2002). Designing School Accountability Systems: Towards framework and process. Washington D.C.: Council of Chief State School Officers.
Selected Reviewer Comments: “This document would be especially helpful for those states that do not have a solid foundation or those that lack experience in effective systems. This guidance would also be useful for professional development purposes (in-services, workshops, conferences), as it provides the reader with a fundamental understanding of accountability systems.”
Designing Schoolwide Programs: Non-Regulatory Guidance
Author/Provider: U.S. Department of Education
Resource Type: Guidance
Cost: Free
Length: 52 pages
Download: http://www.aacompcenter.org/pdf/design_school_guidance.pdf
Resource Summary: This document was meant to complement the No Child Left Behind Act and serve as a “technical assistance resource” for schools (p. 2). This resource contains guidance for “the comprehensive needs assessment, the comprehensive plan, and the annual program evaluation” for schools (p. 2).
Full Citation: U.S. Department of Education. (2006). Designing school wide programs: Non-regulatory guidance. Retrieved August 16, 2006, from website.
Selected Reviewer Comments: “Very useful resource—clear, well written and relevant to all schools.”
“For schools and districts evaluating data software to meet their needs, this site seems very helpful.”
The 18th Education Trust National Conference
Author/Provider: The Education Trust (EdTrust)
Resource Type: Service
Cost: $375
Length: Varies
Website: http://www2.edtrust.org/EdTrust/Conferences+and+Meetings/CONF2K7+Homepage.htmResource Summary: The Education Trust National Conference focuses on raising achievement for all students. Each conference brings together educators and others who are struggling to close opportunity and achievement gaps in their communities and states. Presentations are designed to provide both information and inspiration.
Full Citation: The Education Trust. The 18th Education Trust National Conference. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from http://www2.edtrust.org/EdTrust/Conferences+and+Meetings/CONF2K7+Homepage.htm. See also, The Education Trust. Past Education Trust National Conference Programs and Presentations. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from http://www2.edtrust.org/EdTrust/Conferences+and+Meetings/Natpastconfs.htm.
Selected Reviewer Comments: “The 2007 program featured interesting and relevant topics on closing the achievement gap. The presenters were a mix of researchers, policy makers, and practitioners with broad viewpoints.”
“Provides impetus to states to improve achievement for the lowest performing groups.”
“I think the EdTrust group provides a voice for students who may not be able to speak for themselves.”
Education Watch 2006 State Summary Reports
Author/Provider: The Education Trust (EdTrust)
Resource Type: Product/Tools
Cost: Free
Length: Varies
Website: http://www2.edtrust.org/edtrust/summaries2006/states.htmlResource Summary: The Education Watch 2006 State Summary Reports provide a snapshot of student achievement and the condition of public education in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the nation.
Full Citation: The Education Trust. Education Watch 2006 State Summary Reports. Retrieved April 11, 2008 from http://www2.edtrust.org/edtrust/summaries2006/states.html.
Selected Reviewer Comments: “Great first link page and excellent charts in state reports.”
“An innovative resource that highlights achievement gaps.”
Foundations for Success: Case Studies of How Urban School Systems Improve Student Achievement
Author/Provider: Snipes, J., Doolittle, F., & Herilihy, C. Council of Great City Schools
Resource Type: Knowledge
Cost: Free
Length: 7 pages
Website: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/47/execsum.html
Resource Summary: This study provides case studies of certain urban school districts that focus “on the potential role of the school district as an initiator and sustainer of academic improvement” (p. 1).
Full Citation: Snipes, J., Doolittle, F., & Herilihy, C. (2002). Foundations for success: Case Studies of how urban school systems improve student achievement. Washington, DC: Council of the Great City Schools.
Selected Reviewer Comments: “Very useful resource, well written and raises many issues that are relevant to NCLB goals.”
“This is a useful research report that highlights many of the things that successful school districts do or should be doing to increase student achievement.”
Mapping a Course for Improved Student Learning
Author/Provider: Supovitz, J.A. & Klein, V., Consortium for Policy Research in Education: University of Pennsylvania
Resource Type: Knowledge
Cost: Free
Length: 49 pages
Website: http://www.wallacefoundation.org/ELAN/TR/KnowledgeCategories/
Resource Summary: The authors describe this study as: “about building better roadmaps for teachers and school leaders in order to guide their instructional decision-making” (p. 1). They “seek to develop a framework to help education leaders develop more robust systems for collecting, synthesizing, and analyzing student performance data in a variety of forms in order to improve teaching and learning” (p. 2).
Full Citation: Supovitz, J.A. & Klein, V. (2003). Mapping a course for improved student learning: How innovative schools systematically use student performance data to guide improvement. University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education: Center on Reinventing Public Education.
Selected Reviewer Comments: “This study is descriptive and informative. [The] evidence provided in this study may support work or improvement of other schools.”
“This is a practical resource for leaders who are beginning to use data systematically. Those who are sophisticated in data use will likely find the report to be fairly basic in terms of describing a system for data use but districts just starting out should find it useful.”
National Conference on Large-Scale Assessment (Annual Conference)
Author/Provider: Council of Chief State School Officers
Resource Type: Service
Cost: About $400 for registration fees
Website: http://www.ccsso.org/projects/national_conference_on_ large_scale_assessment/8399.cfm
Resource Summary: This annual conference covers a broad range of topics pertaining large-scale assessment. Usually held in June, the conference includes more than 100 sessions.
Full Citation: This year’s conference is in Nashville, Tennessee, June 17-20, 2007. A draft agenda is on the CCSSO website.
Selected Reviewer Comments: “This web-based link to presentation materials from the 2006 CCSSO Conference on Large Scale Assessment provides valuable resources for addressing numerous topics related to large scale assessments.”
“This conference is a valuable opportunity for state representatives and also researchers to learn about work in the research arena and in state departments of education around large scale assessment.”
Similar Students, Different Results: Why Do Some Schools Do Better?
Author/Provider: Williams, T., Kirst, M., Haertel, E., et al., Ed Source
Resource Type: Knowledge
Cost: Yes
Download: http://www.aacompcenter.org/pdf/sim_stu_05.pdf
Resource Summary: Using a sample of school districts from California, the researchers looked for reasons that similar schools had different scores on the California Academic Performance Index.
Full Citation: Williams, T., Kirst, M., Haertel, E., et al. (2005) Similar Students, different results: Why do some schools do better? A large-scale survey of California elementary schools serving low-income students. Mountain View, CA: EdSource.
Selected Reviewer Comments: This study was conducted by highly respected researchers. The study provides good information on factors that contribute to student achievement.”
Home | About Us | NCLB | Resources | Events | Contact Us|
Login