ERIC Number: EJ1196786
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Dec
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1534-5084
EISSN: N/A
Evaluating Screening Procedures across Changes to the Statewide Achievement Test
Klingbeil, David A.; Van Norman, Ethan R.; Nelson, Peter M.; Birr, Chris
Assessment for Effective Intervention, v44 n1 p17-31 Dec 2018
Several states have changed their statewide achievement tests over the past 5 years. These changes may pose difficulties for educators tasked with identifying students in need of additional support. This study evaluated the stability of decision-making accuracy estimates across changes to the statewide achievement test. We analyzed extant data from a large suburban district in Wisconsin in 2014-2015 (N = 2,774) and 2015--2016 (N = 2,882). We estimated the decision-making accuracy of recommendations from the Measures of Academic Progress for predicting risk on a Common Core State Standards aligned test (2014-2015) and a new test based on updated academic standards (2015--2016) in reading and math. Findings suggest that sensitivity and specificity estimates were relatively stable in math. Changes in the criterion measure were associated with decreased sensitivity when predicting performance in reading. These results provide initial support for educators to continue existing screening practices until test vendors or state educational agencies establish cut-scores for predicting risk on the newer test. Using a lower cut-score to establish risk (increasing sensitivity while decreasing specificity) may be prudent in reading. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
Descriptors: Screening Tests, Achievement Tests, State Programs, Decision Making, Accuracy, Academic Achievement, Predictor Variables, Risk, Common Core State Standards, Academic Standards, Reading Achievement, Mathematics Achievement, Cutting Scores, Benchmarking, Evaluation Methods, Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, Identification, At Risk Students, Remedial Instruction, Measures (Individuals)
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Wisconsin
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A