Raising Student Achievement Through Rapid Assessement and Test Reform Book

"Full of powerful ideas about the role of testing in instructional practice and about how changes in testing policy and practice can make the uses of testing more consistent with our best ideas about teaching and learning." --Richard F. Elmore, Gregory R. Anrig Professor of Educational Leadership, Harvard University "Professor Yeh makes a compelling case for a simple and powerful idea. His proposals deserve serious attention by educational researchers and practitioners. It is clear that carefully implemented, individualized assessment with rapid feedback can be a powerful tool to improve motivation, guide instruction, and improve achievement of important learning objectives." --Edward H. Haertel, Professor of Education, Stanford University, and Past-President, National Council on Measurement in Education In this book, Stuart Yeh suggests specific changes in test design, implementation, and policy that could greatly improve the benefits and reduce the educational costs of high-stakes accountability policies. Book Features: * Perspectives of teachers and administrators who have successfully used rapid assessment systems to improve student engagement and achievement. * A review of meta-analyses and key research studies regarding the effectiveness of rapid assessment systems. * A comparison suggesting that rapid assessment is 8 times as effective as a 10% increase in educational spending, 7 times as effective as vouchers or charter schools, and 14 times as effective as increased accountability. * A proposal to change high school exit exam systems in order to provide appropriate incentives for all students without unfairly denying diplomas. * A proposal to lift the federal ban on computer-adaptive tests for NCLB purposes in order to provide the type of information needed by teachers to improve instruction.