Interpreting Standardized Test Scores: Strategies for Data-Driven Instructional Decision Making

"Craig A. Mertler's approach would reduce your stress level as his book walks the reader through the various assessments often encountered in schools and helps the reader make better use of the information embedded in accountability reports. The book is well-organized and provides clear and thorough descriptions of the myriad terms the reader will encounter with assessments." —Lane B. Mills, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR "This text offers a clear, insightful study of how to interpret, use, and reflect on test data in ways that help to develop better schools, highly qualified teachers, and well prepared students." —Linda Karges-Bone, Charleston Southern University As standardized testing continues to grow in importance in our society, this text will become a critical part of measurement curriculum and instruction." —Gordon Brooks, Ohio University Interpreting Standardized Test Scores: Strategies for Data-Driven Instructional Decision Making is designed to help K-12 teachers and administrators understand the nature of standardized tests and, in particular, the scores that result from them. This useful manual helps teachers develop the skills necessary to incorporate these test scores into various types of instructional decision making—a process known as "data-driven decision making"—necessitated by the needs of their students. Key Features Helps readers understand, interpret, and use standardized test scores to improve classroom instruction: Several specific examples are given for interpreting test scores and developing a plan to revise instruction based on those results. Offers activities for application and reflection: Follow-up activities and discussion points are provided for experienced and preservice teachers across K-12 grade levels. Presents successful case studies: The author includes interviews with classroom teachers, building administrators, and district-level administrators who have successfully engaged in a process of incorporating test scores into decision making. Intended Audience This is an excellent supplementary text for any course that incorporates standardized testing as a topic, including but not limited to courses in Classroom Assessment, Educational Psychology, Content Methods, Reading, Special Education, Curriculum, Literacy, Administration, The Principalship, and The Superintendency.

Table of Contents:
Preface SECTION ONE: OVERVIEW OF STANDARDIZED TESTING: CONCEPTS AND TERMINOLOGY 1. What Is "Standardized" Testing? What Makes a Test "Standardized"? A Brief History of Standardized Testing in American Education How Standardized Tests Are Developed Test Bias Types of Standardized Tests Based on Purpose Types of Standardized Tests Based on Scores Summary Activities for Application and Reflection 2. The Importance of Standardized Testing Appropriate Uses of Standardized Testing in Education Misuses of Standardized Testing in Education Why Educators Dislike Standardized Testing Why Educators (Should) Like Standardized Testing Summary Activities for Application and Reflection 3. Standardized Test Administration and Preparation Standardized Administration Procedures Testwiseness Skills Do′s and Dont′s of Test Preparation "Teaching to the Test" Versus "Teaching to the Standards"- A Final Word Summary Activities for Application and Reflection SECTION TWO: STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS 4. Test Reports Overview of Test Reports Individual Student Reports Class Reports Building- and District-Level Reports Summary Activities for Application and Reflection 5. Criterion-Referenced Test Scores and Their Interpretations What Do Criterion-Referenced Test Scores Tell Us? Selected-Response Test Items Constructed-Response Test Items The Nature of Cut Scores Summary Activities for Application and Reflection 6. Norm-Referenced Test Scores and Their Interpretations What Do Norm-Referenced Scores Tell Us? The Nature of Norm Groups Types of Norm-Referenced Scores Standard Error of Measurement and Confidence Intervals Summary Activities for Application and Reflection SECTION THREE: USING STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES IN INSTRUCTIONAL DECISION MAKING 7. Group-Level Decision Making Data-Driven Decision Making A Process for Focusing on Group Instruction Summary Activities for Application and Reflection 8. Student-Level Decision Making A Process for Focusing on Individual Instruction (Intervention) Summary Activities for Application and Reflection 9. Value-Added Analysis and Interpretation What Is "Value-Added" Analysis? A Process for Value-Added Decision Making Summary Activities for Application and Reflection SECTION FOUR: CASE STUDIES: INTERVIEWS WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS District and School Profiles Interview Transcripts: Teachers Interview Transcripts: Administrators Glossary References Index About the Author