Standards to Assessments: Looking at the Whole Picture. Memorandum

This field memo is the third in a series of updates from the Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education to all teachers and administrators of public and nonpublic schools on standards and assessments in New York. This document explains how the New York State Education Department determines if test scores are fair, reliable, and valid, and how cut scores are set. It also discusses how test data can be used to inform decision making at various levels in the school community and contains a section of commonly asked questions with answers. The discussion is set in the context of the new state assessments developed in accord with New York's standards of learning. The test construction process is described from the development of test items by New York educators through the statistical checks that assure reliability, validity, and fairness. The booklet also discusses using the data to inform instruction and develop instructional policy. It suggests ways parents can use the data in working with their children's teachers. Attachments contain the draft schedule for assessments in 2002, a chart of the test development process, and a list of approved alternative assessments. A glossary is attached. (SLD)