| FOR RELEASE August 18, 1997 | News Media Contact: Melinda Kitchell Malico, (202) 401-1576 Program Contract: Naomi Chudowsky, (202) 219-2042 |
The American Institutes for Research (AIR) will oversee the multi year effort. Major test publishers and others involved as subcontractors include California Test Bureau/McGraw Hill (Monterey, Calif.); Council for Basic Education (Washington, D.C.); Educational Testing Service (Princeton, N.J.); Harcourt Brace Educational Measurement (San Antonio, Texas); National Computer Systems (Iowa City, Iowa); Riverside Publishing (Itasca, Ill.); and Westat, Inc. (Rockville, Md.).
The contractor, AIR, is a national, nonprofit organization with broad experience in education related research, including work in large scale assessments, policy analysis and program evaluation.
President Clinton this year proposed annual voluntary national tests in 4th grade reading and 8th grade mathematics based on high standards for student achievement. The tests will be based on the highly respected National Assessment of Educational Progress and for math, will be linked to the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. They will be a valuable resource for interested school districts and states to use as part of their efforts to improve schools. And the tests will show parents, schools and communities how well their children are performing in math and reading -- two subjects critical to student success at pivotal points in time.
"The voluntary national tests will provide valuable information to help children master the basics," U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley said. "Raising expectations and standards in education motivates students to learn more and work harder. For the first time, the tests will inform parents, teachers and students themselves about what it takes to reach national and even international standards of achievement no matter where they live in this great country -- something no other test currently does.
"These tests are about giving young people the basic skills they need to prepare them to navigate the changing times and get a solid foundation that prepares them for college or technical careers following high school."
The $13,035,848 contract was awarded competitively following a review and recommendation by an evaluation panel. The reviewers included state and school district representatives, as well as reading, math, assessment and civil rights experts.
The responsibilities of the project subcontractors are:
This fall, advisory panels will be named to oversee test development, including subject matter, technical issues and accommodations for limited English proficient students and those with disabilities. They will build on work already done by committees of expert teachers, administrators, parents, policy makers and business and community leaders -- as well as findings from public meetings and hearings that solicited the views of parents, teachers and communities.
Test items and scoring criteria are to be developed this fall, with a field test to be ready next spring (1998). Sample tests will be posted on the Internet in fall 1998. AIR will oversee efforts to get public comments -- from parents, students and educators -- on the sample tests and to develop user friendly reports of student test results.
Six states, 15 cities, and the Department of Defense Schools -- encompassing nearly 20 percent of the nation's 4th and 8th grade public school enrollment -- have already signed on to participate in the voluntary national tests.
Funds for the test development contract are from the department's Fund for the Improvement of Education, in the Office of Educational Research and Improvement.
AIR has offices in Washington, D.C.; Palo Alto, Calif.; and Concord, Mass.
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