The State Education Standard
Vol. 1, No. 2
Spring 2000

Feature Articles:
The Purposes and Elements of Effective Assessment Systems
by Carla Claycomb and David Kysilko
Recommendations on the foundations of state testing systems, as developed by NASBE's Assessment Study Group.

The Too Often Neglected Aspects of State Assessment
by Suellen Reed
A state superintendent and board chair looks at important facets of the state role in testing.
 
Stakes, Mistakes, and Statewide Testing
by Stuart Kahl
A testing company president addresses the epidemic of errors related to state assessments.
 
After Great Expectations, Hard Times
by Bruce M. Penniman
A state teacher of the year gives the classroom perspective on state standards and tests.

The Assessment of Students with Disabilities and Students with Limited English Proficiency
by Katherine Fraser
Parents, students, and other stakeholders speak out for special populations.
 
State Exams Flunk Test of Quality
by Monty Neill
A critic's view of today's large-scale assessments, by the executive director of FairTest

Watchdog Agency Needed for Standardized Test Makers
by Larry Cuban
The author argues that as testing becomes a big business and the stakes increase, more oversight is needed.
 
Departments:
Editor's Note
Executive Summary
by NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn
Policy Pulse
A summary of recent state education actions
Washington Notebook
Surveying the federal education scene
State Innovations
States' progress toward the inclusion of students with disabilities and English Language Learners in large-scale assessments
Judicial Review
by David Kysilko
School Finance Litigation
The Policy Wonk
by Virginia Roach
The art of state education policymaking