Larry Ferlazzo
The Best Resources For Learning About The “Next Generation” Of State Testing
Filed under best of the year,school reform,teacher resources

Things have certainly been hopping this week with various multi-state organizations preparing to spend millions of dollars from the Department of Education to develop the “next generation” of state testing. There are two tracks going on — one primarily geared towards more “mainstream” students and the other focusing on English Language Learner assessment. This seemed to be a good time to bring together a few posts and articles about what’s been going on. Feel free to contribute other suggestions.

The past posts that I’ve written and have included in this “The Best…” list also include links to other excellent related resources.

Here are my choices for The Best Resources For Learning About The “Next Generation” Of State Testing:

One of the reasons I’m writing this post today is because the state of California announced today that they were joining the SMARTER Consortium — one of the two groups developing the tests for more “mainstream” students. I’m pleased with that decision (my posts on this list give the reasons why). You can read more information about that decision here. You can also read California Takes Sides in Assessment Development Work at Education Week.

You can read about some of the politics going on behind that choice at the Thoughts on Public Education blog.

Here are my three previous posts on the topic:

The Next Generation Of State Tests

Consortia Flesh Out Visions for Common Tests comes from Ed Week.

Want To Learn About The Next Generation Of Tests We’ll Be Giving Our Students?

How Should Teachers Respond To The Development Of New State Assessments?

There has also been a lot of recent movement in a parallel effort by states seeking funding from the Department of Education to develop common tests for English Language Learners. I’ve previously written about the concerns I have about this move at Wasting Money On New Tests For English Language Learners.

Mary Ann Zehr at the Learning The Language blog at Education Week has been providing excellent coverage of the two multi-state groups leading that effort (I haven’t taken the time to compare these groups with the mainstream testing groups, but it would be interesting to see if the make-up of each is similar). Here are her recent posts and articles:

Draft Rules Point Way to Consistency in ELL Policies

A Vision for ELL Inclusion in Tests Pegged to the ‘Common Core’

Calif., Wis. Take Lead to Propose ELL Tests for ‘Common Core’

WIDA Tally: Montana and Maryland Join Consortium

At Proposals for English-Proficiency Tests for the ‘Common Core’, Mary Ann Zehr at Education Week shares links to the proposals to create new state assessments for English Language Learners.

Making ‘Common Core’ Tests Accessible to All Students is by Mary Ann Zehr at Ed Week.