Contents

Title Page and Notice			i
National Academies Statement			iii
Committee			iv
Preface			v
Executive Summary			1
		Organization of the Report	3
	1	An Introduction to Assessment in The Science Classroom	7
	2	The Case for Strengthening Assessment in the Science Classroom	11
		A Framework for Formative Assessment	13
		The Teacher's Role	15
		The Student's Role	17
		The School's Role	18
		Assessment and High Standards	19
		Multiple Purposes of Assessment	20
		Key Points	21
	3	Assessment in the Classroom	23
		Features of Formative Assessment	25
		Where Are You Trying to Go?	32
		Where Are You Now?	33
		How Can You Get There?	49
		The Equity Principle	52
		Validity and Reliability	55
		Key Points	58
	4	The Relationship Between Formative and Summative Assessment--In the Classroom and Beyond	59
		How Can Summative Assessment Serve the Standards?	60
		Forms of Summative Assessment in the Classroom	60
		Grading and Communicating Achievement	64
		Validity and Reliability in Summative Assessments	69
		Large-Scale, External Assessment--The Current System and Need for Reform	71
		Building an External Standards-Based Summative Assessment System	73
		Learning from Current Reform	74
		Key Points	76
	5	Professional Development	79
		Features of Professional Development	80
		An Agenda for Assessment-Centered Professional Development	83
		Supporting Student Involvement in Assessment	88
		Key Points	96
	6	Beyond the Classroom--System-Level Supports	97
		District and State Testing Policies	98
		Teachers' Voice in External Science Assessments	99
		District and School Level	99
		Higher Education	102
		Community and Parents	103
		Toward What End?	103
References			105
Index			111