This paper offers a critical and theoretical exploration of the contemporary use of standards in assessment in higher education. It outlines three discourses of assessment standards. Each perspective foregrounds particular realities and backgrounds others, and so influences practice in particular taken-for-granted ways. The assumptions of these…

Over the past few years, several states have begun to explore or pilot different through-year assessments to serve as replacements to the traditional end-of-year summative assessments that are currently the predominant source of information used by states to meet federal accountability requirements. While there are several different assessment…

Researchers have long traced achievement gaps in the elementary years back to readiness gaps at the start of kindergarten. Educators seeking to address these gaps, which are associated with race and ethnicity, home language, disability status, and indicators of economic disadvantage, need systematic ways to identify which children need what kinds…

In the 21st-century, we need a generation who can read and face the challenges of the times. The research aimed to master patterns of science with the next generation science standards (NGSS) standards of junior high school students in north coastal areas of Java Island. The research method is quantitative expose-facto and subjects were 228…

High school science teacher Michelle Vanhala reflects on her (sometimes rocky) path to standards-based grading and a grading system that aligned with her educational philosophy.

Teachers spend much of their time on assessment, yet many higher education teachers have received minimal guidance on assessment design and marking. This means assessment can often be a source of stress and frustration. "Assessment and Feedback in Higher Education" aims to solve these problems. Offering a concise overview of assessment…

Standards-based grading ensures students are graded consistently and fairly based on mastery of objectives versus non-academic reasons, such as participation, behavior, and effort, but implementation of standards-based grading faces many challenges. This narrative qualitative study explored teachers' experiences with and stories about implementing…

In 2011, the state of Maine introduced a statute that required all diplomas to be awarded on the basis of proficiency by 2017. During this period of time, school districts moved to incorporate Proficiency-based Education (PBE) systems of instruction and learning. This prompted educators to bring clarity to standards, assessment, and grading…

The purpose of this mixed methods triangulation convergence study (Creswell & Clark, 2017) was to identify the differences between expressions of understanding through writing versus video reflection in a second-grade science classroom. Specifically, we analyzed the reflective piece of the design thinking of the engineering and design process…

The problem this research study investigated was the readiness of the selected district's administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers in implementing a standards-based grading (SBG) initiative. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine the district's elementary administration, instructional coaches, and teachers' perceptions…

Student-centered classrooms make it possible for schools to fulfill their best and most enduring promise: to give students a fair chance to grow up literate, open-minded, and prepared to succeed. With this resource as your guide, you will learn six teaching practices to help you leave behind one-size-fits-all lessons, tests, and grades in favor of…

Special education teachers are required to use the alternative achievement standards (AAS) for students with the most significant disabilities. The problem addressed in this qualitative case study was the lack of special education teacher's perspectives about the alignment of the general education curriculum and AAS and how their perspectives may…

This study examines teachers' beliefs in relation to their roles with respect to K-12 students with English as an additional language and co-existing disability (SEAL+D) participation in state-mandated accountability assessments. U.S. federal laws of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), last reauthorized as the Every Student Succeeds…

Alaska's last literacy blueprint was written in 2011. A lot has changed in 12 years. Since then, Alaska adopted new English Language Arts standards to reflect the advanced literacy students need to be ready for college and careers. The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) adopted the Alaska Native Cultural Standards for…

Grading practices have been around for years. Yet, grading is still a never-ending debate. One cause of this debate is the use of traditional grading. Although there is a need for change in traditional grading practices, one understands the deeply rooted traditions behind traditional grading. Grading is subjective based on each individual…