[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9004-9005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3438]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Public Comment on Setting Achievement Levels in Writing
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment Governing
Board.
ACTION: Notice, Public Comment on Setting Achievement Levels in
Writing.
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SUMMARY: The National Assessment Governing Board (Governing Board) is
soliciting public comments and recommendations to improve the design
proposed for setting achievement levels for NAEP in writing. This
notice provides opportunity for public comment and submitting
recommendations for improving the design proposed for setting
achievement levels for the 2011 National Assessment of Educational
Progress (NAEP) in Writing.
The proposed Design Document, available at http://www.wested.org/cs/naep/print/docs/naep/welcome.html, describes the process that will
produce cutscores to represent the lower boundary of each of three NAEP
achievement levels: Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. The Governing
Board has contracted with WestEd to assist in gathering feedback on the
design document. Additional information on the Governing Board's work
and NAEP achievement levels can be found at http://www.nagb.org
Public and private individuals and organizations are invited to
provide written comments and recommendations. Voluntary participation
by all interested parties is urged. This notice sets forth the review
schedule, identifies the kinds of information that the Governing Board
is seeking to obtain regarding the Design
[[Page 9005]]
Document, and provides information for accessing additional materials
that will be useful for this review. This document is intended to
notify members of the general public of their opportunity to provide
comments and/or make recommendations.
Background
Under Public Law 107-279, the Governing Board is authorized to
formulate policy guidelines for NAEP. The legislation specifies that
the Governing Board is to develop appropriate student achievement
levels for each subject and grade tested, as provided in section
303(e). Achievement levels are determined by identifying the knowledge
that can be measured and verified objectively using widely accepted
professional assessment standards. Achievement levels are to be
consistent with relevant widely accepted professional assessment
standards, and based on the appropriate level of subject matter
knowledge for grade levels to be assessed, or on the age of the
students
In preparation for setting achievement levels for the new
assessment of writing at grades 4, 8, and 12, the Governing Board seeks
comment on the draft Design Document intended to guide this process.
This is the first wholly computer-based NAEP, and the design calls for
this to be the first computerized NAEP achievement levels-setting
process. Comments are invited, particularly on the computerization of
the achievement levels setting process. All responses received will be
taken into consideration before finalizing the Design Document.
Materials for Review and Comment
Policymakers, teachers, researchers, State and local writing
specialists, members of professional writing and teacher organizations,
and members of the public are invited to provide feedback. Comments
will provide valuable feedback that is designed to improve the first
computerized achievement levels setting process.
To assist with the review and comment, the following materials are
posted at http://www.wested.org/cs/naep/print/docs/naep/welcome.html.
(1) Design Document: The draft Design Document presents a
preliminary design approach to guide all aspects of the process.
(2) Focus Questions: Focus questions related to certain aspects of
the Design Document are provided as potential areas of interest for
your feedback. While all comments and recommendations are appreciated,
specific issues that you might wish to address include the following:
1. The objective of this study is to set achievement levels for the
2011 and 2013 NAEP writing assessments. Does the study design as
presented in the Design Document seem reasonable for accomplishing this
overall objective?
2. What improvements can be made to the design to more fully
accomplish the objectives of this study?
3. The proposed design calls for the computerization of many
aspects of the study. Are there aspects of this computerization that
will be particularly effective or ineffective in meeting the objective
of this study?
4. Is the field trial as described a reasonable method for testing
the logistics of the computerized methodology?
5. Is the special study as described a reasonable method for
comparing performance relative to the achievement levels on the 2007
writing NAEP assessment with performance relative to the achievement
levels for the new writing NAEP assessment?
Timeline
It is anticipated that the finalized Design Document will be
presented for approval to the Governing Board on March 4, 2011.
Comments must be received by February 22, 2011, and sent to:
WestEd, 730 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, Attention:
Jennae Bulat: Public Comment, Fax: (415) 615-3200, E-mail:
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennae Bulat, WestEd, 730 Harrison
Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, Telephone: (415) 615-3260, FAX: (415)
615-3200, E-mail: [email protected].
Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/index.html. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF,
call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free at 1-866-512-
0000; or in the Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1800.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.
Dated: February 10, 2011.
Munira Mwalimu,
Operations Officer, National Assessment Governing Board, U.S.
Department of Education.
[FR Doc. 2011-3438 Filed 2-15-11; 8:45 am]
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