Assessment and Accountability

Schools must participate in state assessments as outlined in the ESEA.

Guidance, Regulations, Legislation, and Announcements

Guidance

Non-Regulatory Guidance, Title I, Part A-Report Cards (Word)
For specific information on assessement, refer to section B1.

Non-Regulatory Guidance, Alternate Achievement Standards for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Word)
Provides states with detailed information about how best to use and implement alternate achievement standards.

Secretary of Education Key Policy Letter on Addressing Accountability Provisions to Displaced Students of Hurricane Katrina and Rita (September 2005)

USDE: NCLB—A Road Map to State Implementation
This U.S. Department of Education publication is a user-friendly guide to help navigate the road ahead in education reform. It describes ways the Department—together with parents, educators and state and local policymakers—is making NCLB work for students and educators. The law sets the same requirements for all states, while recognizing that the paths they take to get there will vary. The road map breaks down a 670-page law into clear principles for success, and it recaps and frames how states have adapted those principles to raise student achievement. For specific information on assessment and accountability, refer to pages 5-7.

Non-Regulatory Guidance, Alternate Achievement Standards for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (Word)
Guidance addresses only the implementation of the December 9, 2003 regulation on alternate achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. It does not address the proposed “2 percent” policy or the issue of “modified” achievement standards.

Peer Review Guidance for the NCLB Growth Model Pilot Applications (Word)

Non-Regulatory Guidance, Improving Data Quaility for Title I Standards, Assessments, and Accountability Reporting (Word)
Guidance addresses only data quality issues associated with the annual Report Card required of all States, local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools receiving Title I, Part A funds under Sec. 1111(h) of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Non-Regulatory Guidance, Assessment and Accountability for Recently Arrived and Former Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students (Word)

Regulations

Final Regulation, Part 200—Title I—Improving The Academic Achievement Of The Disadvantaged
For specific information on assessment, refer to pages 71716-71717.

Legislation

Final Legislation, Public Law print of PL 107-110, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; TITLE 1, SEC. 1116. ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT AND LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

Announcements

Additional Guidance Offered to States to Help Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (March 2004)

U.S. Department Of Education Releases More Workable, Common Sense Approach To Implement No Child Left Behind Law (April 2005)

Asst. Secretary of Education’s Letter to Chief State School Officers Regarding Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in State Accountability Systems (March 2004)

Charting the Course: States Decide Major Provisions Under No Child Left Behind (January 2004)

Secretary of Education Letter on Adequate Yearly Progress (July 2002)

Secretary of Education Releases Growth Model Pilot, Addresses Chief State School Officers' Annual Policy Forum in Richmond (November 2005)

Secretary of Education Announces Partnership with States to Improve Accountability for Limited English Proficient Students (July 2006)

Related Resources from SchoolsMovingUp

Webinars

Assessment and Accountability: Six Habits of a Highly Effective District
September 21, 2005

Using Formative Assessments to Improve the Achievement of All Students: Key Policy Questions and Practical Decisions (Parts I & II)
December 13, 2006

Ideas in Action: Baldwin Academy
December 5, 2007

Ideas in Action: Central Union High School
January 16, 2008

Making Progress on Essential Standards and Assessment Reforms
April 21, 2009

Accommodating Students with Disabilities: Resources from Two States and Perspectives on the Future of Accommodating
January 12, 2011

Tips to Go

Audio Tip to Go—Everyone is Involved in Assessment
As the year begins, everyone at San Diego’s Los Penasquitos Elementary School knows what’s expected of them, because the assessment plan is developed collaboratively by the school staff.

Audio Tip to Go—Endorsing the Endorsement Document
Los Penasquitos Elementary School, part of the Poway Unified School District in San Diego, is clear about one thing: everyone is held accountable for student learning — teachers, students, administrators, and parents.

Articles

Focus on Accountability
Publication Date: 2003
Publisher: WestEd

Balancing Local Assessment with Statewide Testing: Building a Program That Meets Student Needs
Author: Stanley N. Rabinowitz and Sri Ananda
Publication Date: 2001
Publisher: WestEd

Setting Our Sights: Measuring Equity in School Change
Author: Johnson, R.S.
Publication Date: 1996
Publisher: The Achievement Council

Data Analysis for Comprehensive Schoolwide Improvement
Author: Bernhardt, V.
Publication Date: 2004 (2nd edition)
Publisher: Eye on Education

Results: The Key to Continuous School Improvement
Author: Schmoker, M.
Publication Date: 1999
Publisher: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

Software Enabling School Improvement Through Analysis of Student Data
Author: Jeffrey C. Wayman, Sam Stringfield, and Mary Yakimowski
Publication Date: 2004, January
Publisher: Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed At Risk (CRESPAR)

Bottom-Up Simple Approach to School Accountability and Improvement, The
Author: Carr, J., Artman, E.
Publication Date: 2002
Publisher: Christopher-Gordon Publishers

Making Standards Work, 3rd edition
Author: Reeves, D.B.
Publication Date: 2002
Publisher: Advanced Learning Press

California State Board of Education Seminar on State Assessments and Accountability Systems (PDF)
Author: Flores, G.
Publication Date: 2004, May
Publisher: California Department of Education

A Principal Looks Back: Standards Matter
Author: Marshall, K.
Publication Date: 2003
Publisher: Harvard Education Press

No Schools Left Behind
Author: Bernhardt, V.L.
Publication Date: 2003, February
Publisher: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

Ed Trust - Questions to Ask About NCLB Reports
Publication Date: 2004
Publisher: Ed Trust

Understanding Young Readers: The Role of Early Literacy Assessment
Author: Rabinowitz, S.N., Wong, J., Filby, N.
Publication Date: 2002
Publisher: WestEd

Making Assessment Work for Everyone: How To Build on Student Strengths
Author: Kusimo, P., Ritter, M.G., Busick, K., Ferguson, C., Trumbull, E., Solano-Flores, G.
Publication Date: 2000
Publisher: WestEd

Locally Tailored Accountability: Building on Your State System in the Era of NCLB
Author: Crane, E.W., Rabinowitz, S., Zimmerman, J.
Publication Date: 2004
Publisher: WestEd

Accountability in Action: A Blueprint for Learning Organizations, 2nd edition
Author: Reeves, D.B.
Publication Date: 2000
Publisher: Advanced Learning Press

The Challenges of Accountability
Author: Scherer, Marge (Ed.)
Publication Date: 2003, November
Publisher: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

The 90/90/90 Schools: A Case Study
Author: Reeves, D. B.
Publication Date: 2000
Publisher: Advanced Learning Press

Measuring Teacher Success: Innovative Developments in Assessing Teacher Performance
Author: Harvard University's Government Innovators Network; USDE's Office of Innovation and Improvement
Publication Date: 2005, July

Technical Adequacy of Assessments for Alternate Student Populations
Author: Rabinowitz, S.N., Sato, E.
Publication Date: 2005
Publisher: WestEd

Practical Guidelines for the Education of English Language Learners: Research-Based Recommendations for the Use of Accommodations in Large-Scale Assessments
Author: Francis, D., Rivera, M., Lesaux, N., Kieffer, M., Rivera, H.
Publication Date: 2006
Publisher: RMC Research Corporation, Center on Instruction

When ELL Students Take Both Title I and Title III Assessments
Author: S. Marion
Publication Date: 2007, September

Test Validity and Mean Effects of Test Accommodations for ELLs and Non-ELLs: A Meta-Analysis
Author: M. Pennock-Roman, C. Rivera
Publication Date: 2007, September

Role of Interim Assessments in a Comprehensive Assessment System: A Policy Brief
Author: Perie, M., Marion, S., Gong, B., Wurtzel, J.
Publication Date: 2007, November
Publisher: National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment

Teacher-Made Assessments
Author: Holler, E.W., Gareis, C.R., Martin, J., Clouser, A., Miller, S.
Publication Date: 2008, September
Publisher: National Association of Secondary School Principals

Guidelines for Ensuring the Technical Quality of Assessments Affecting English Language Learners and Students with Disabilities Development and Implementation of Regulations
Publication Date: 2007, September
Publisher: WestEd

Guidelines for Ensuring the Technical Quality of Assessments Affecting English Language Learners and Students with Disabilities Development and Implementation of Regulations
Publication Date: 2007, September
Publisher: WestEd

Useful Links

Questions and Answers on No Child Left Behind — Accountability
Provides answers to frequently asked questions about school report cards, adequate yearly progress, what parents can do to help their child's school succeed, and more. Developed by the US Department of Education.

Testing for Results
Explains how improved testing and accountability can help improve student achievement. Developed by the US Department of Education.

State Accountability Plans
Provides links to every state's accountability plan under NCLB. Developed by the US Department of Education.

Data Use Tools and Resources
Shows educators—and others involved in using data in a classroom, school, or district—a variety of places to find resources, tools, and action steps to foster school improvement. Developed by North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, a project of the US Department of Education.