Re: individuals

Windward, Rolfe (windward who-is-at lindsey.edu)
Mon, 19 Jul 1999 16:17:46 -0500

Here in Kentucky, the statewide assessment system focuses on year-to-year
improvement of individual schools as measured by their students success at
meeting the state standards. Additional funding or bonuses are tied to the
results but I do not believe there is any impact on the, per-pupil baseline
funding. Recently, a standardized/normal component was added to the state
assessment instrument to, ostensibly, improve inter-school comparability and
(presumably) accountability but the revised instrument will not be
implemented until next year so its effect(s) in this regard is uncertain.

I suspect aggregate student success will remain a primary accountability
indicator for the foreseeable future although arguments about norm- vs.
criterion-referenced measures will continue. At this point, Kentucky still
primarily uses a criterion-referenced, developmentally oriented approach
(which also includes portfolios) but the debate over authenticity and
accountability rages on.

Rolfe Windward
Dept. of Education, Lindsey Wilson College
windward who-is-at lindsey.edu
"We know more than we can say" -M. Polanyi