

This article addresses the issue by estimating teacher value added, then applying extremely mild nonlinear transformations to the original scale and re-estimating the value added. Although by definition at most one of these scales can be equal-interval, all are treated as if interval-scaled when estimating value added.
By: James Soland
Topics: Measurement & scaling, Student growth & accountability policies


This article details the early kindergarten transition (EKT) program evaluation study conducted by a university–district partnership, as well as testimony from district leadership on the utility of the research deliverables and the longterm benefits of the research collaboration.
By: Beth Tarasawa, Nicole Ralson, Jacqueline Waggoner
Topics: Empowering educators


A general approach to measuring test-taking effort on computer-based tests
The current study outlines a general process for measuring item-level effort that can be applied to an expanded set of item types and test-taking behaviors (such as omitted or constructed responses). This process, which is illustrated with data from a large-scale assessment program, should improve our ability to detect non-effortful test taking and perform individual score validation.
By: Steven Wise, Lingyun Gao
Topics: Measurement & scaling, Innovations in reporting & assessment, Student growth & accountability policies


NWEA promotes accessibility in assessment with release of image description guidelines
Image descriptions are important to make computer-based assessments accessible to students using assistive technology (AT) devices, such as screen readers and refreshable braille displays. NWEA, with support from the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM), has created guidelines for describing many variations of images, charts, and graphics targeted specifically to the disciplines of reading, language usage, science, and mathematics.
By: Elizabeth Barker
Topics: Equity, Accessibility


What does equity and accessibility look like within assessment?
Creating tests and items from the beginning with Universal Design for Learning in mind, removing barriers by adding alt-tags, and incorporating more culturally rich materials are all steps NWEA is doing to improve our equity for all students.
By: Elizabeth Barker
Topics: Equity, Accessibility


A large-scale, long-term study of scale drift: The micro view and the macro view
This study examined the measurement stability of a set of Rasch measurement scales that have been in place for almost 40 years.


The major purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of CAT test design and bank distribution on the content coverage and the efficiency of the tests.
By: Shudong Wang, Hong Jiao
Topics: Test design, Computer adaptive testing, Learning standards & alignment