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U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (1992). Testing in America's Schools: Asking the Right Questions. OTA-SET-519 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office)
Table 1. Appropriate Uses of Norm-referenced and Criterion-referenced Tests 1
Purpose Test
To compare achievement of local NRT students to achievement of students in
the nation, state, or other districts in a
given year.
To compare achievement of subgroups NRT of local students to achievement of
similar subgroups in the nation, state, or
other districts in a given year.
To compare achievement of one local NRT school's student subgroup (e.g. sex, race,
or age) to achievement of another such
subgroup in a given year to determine
the equity of educational outcomes.
To assess the extent to which students in CRT a single grade level (at district, building,
or classroom level) have mastered the
essential objectives of the school system's curriculum.
To assess the extent to which a given CRT student is learning the essential objectives
of the school system's curriculum and, subsequently, to adjust instruction for
that student.
Examples
A comparison of achievement of local schools' 3rd graders to achievement of 3rd graders throughout the nation.
A comparison of achievement of local black to the achievement of black students throughout the nation.
A comparison of achievement of black and white students in local schools to determine and monitor any gap in achievement.
A comparison of difference between results of September and May criterion-referenced tests to determine the extent to which 3rd graders at a given school attained 3rd grade objectives in reading.
The use of the results from the September and January criterion-referenced tests as one indicator to help determine if a student is properly placed in an instructional group.
Primary users
Central office, (including school boards), parents
Central office
Central office, principals
Teachers, principals, central office
Teachers, principals, parents
1 ThisRcuhdanrtewr,aLs. apnredpWar.eSdcbhyafPerin(2c0e0G2)eWorhgaet’sTCeaocuhnetrys(NMeDed) tPouKbnliocwSAchbooults. Assessment. Washington, DC: National Education Association.
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