State Assessment

The following resources have been organized by the CSSS Assessment Committee. Please contact them if you have questions.

Assessment resources have been grouped into the following categories:

• Systems of Assessment
  
• 3D Performance Tasks and Rubrics
  
• Formative Assessment
  
• State Science Assessment
  
• Teacher Evaluation
  
• Links to Earlier Work
  
• Large-Scale Assessment Discussion
  

Systems of Assessment

• National Academies Report - Developing Assessments for the Next Generation Science Standards - emphasizing the importance of systems of assessment, particularly in Chapter 6
• Kentucky Science Assessment System (pdf) - further details on their assessment system can be found at this KY website, as well as within these Mar 2017 presentation slides.  
• Michigan Science Assessment System - pdf of a webinar describing this system.
  MI - Sample HS Performance Task
  MI - Sample 5th Grade Performance Task
• Stanford NGSS Assessment Project Report - A System of Assessment for the Next Generation Science Standards in California: A discussion document.
• L. Shepard, B. Penuel, and K. Davidson article from the Kappan - Designing Principles for New Systems of Assessment
• J. Pellegrino report from SRI (2016) - 21st Century Science Assessment: The Future is Now
  
• J. Pellegrino article from NASBE on NGSS Science Assessment (2016) - Making Sense of New Science Assessments

3D Performance Tasks and Rubrics

• Dr. Helen Quinn video clip where she discusses the importance of 3D performance assessment
• Creating Systems of Assessment for Deeper Learning - by David T. Conley and Linda Darling-Hammond - specifically discusses the importance of performance-based tasks within assessment systems
• Stanford NGSS Assessment Project (SNAP) - examples of performance assessment tasks and rubrics aligned to NGSS
• Sample Kentucky Performance Tasks – this website describes the science Through Course Tasks that are part of the Kentucky system of assessments and provides a searchable bank of tasks.
  
• Performance Assessment Resource Bank - examples and professional learning resources from Stanford
• Stanford SCALE Project Rubric Webinar - folder contains full webinar recording, sample rubrics, and a quality rubric checklist (not science specific, but includes examples of rubrics for science and engineering practices, evidence-based argumentation, and crosscutting concepts).
• NGSS Rubrics - Wisconsin Dept of Public Instruction page with resources
• Louisiana K-12 Science Resources – while these are a “work in progress,” there are useful scope and sequence and performance task examples
  
  

Formative Assessment

• STEM Teaching Tools - includes several briefs related to science assessment:
  

16 - The Informal Formative Assessment Cycle as a Model for Teacher Practice

18 - How teachers can develop formative assessments that fit a three-dimensional view of science learning

25 - How can formative assessment support culturally responsive argumentation in a classroom community?

26 - How can assessments be designed to engage students in the range of science and engineering practices?

29 - Steps to Designing a Three Dimensional Assessment

30 - Integrating Science Practices Into Assessment Tasks

33 - How to design assessments for emerging bilingual students

37 - Research Brief: Designing an Assessment System that Measures Three-Dimensional Science Learning

41 - Prompts for Integrating Crosscutting Concepts Into Assessment and Instruction

50 - How Can Preservice Teachers Orient to Students’ Ideas and Sensemaking practices?

• Assessment PD modules with the ACESSE project (in conjunction w/ STEM Teaching Tools)
  

Session A: Introduction to Formative Assessment to Support Equitable 3D Instruction (60-70 minutes)

Session B: How to Assess Three-Dimensional Learning in Your Classroom: Building Assessment Tasks that Work (60-70 minutes)

Session C: Making Science Instruction Compelling for All Students: Using Cultural Formative Assessment to Build on Learner Interest and Experience

• Seeing Students Learn Science - National Academies report on effective 3D instruction in science, particularly focused on classroom-level assessment
• Curriculum-Linked Assessment Ideas and Resources - ideas for and examples of assessments built from the R+P Collaboratory Group
• Series of webinars on formative assessment - from the Michigan Math and Science Centers (a link to recordings is also available)
• Prof. Erin Furtak - CSSS webinar recording 2016 - describes the a formative assessment cycle for science with examples. Link to Slides.
• Next Generation Science Assessment - NSF funded project w/ PIs Christopher Harris, Joe Krajcik, and Jim Pellegrino; includes sample assessment tasks and resources on the design process
• Institute for Innovative Assessment - ONPAR project to make formative and large-scale tests more interactive and accessible for all students.
  

State Science Assessment

• NORC STEM Assessment Database - work from Rolf Blank’s team to summarize current state-by-state work with standardized assessments in science and mathematics.
• Listing of State Science Assessment Websites and Resources Provided - research by Rolf Blank, fall 2020
• Science Assessment Item Collaborative (SAIC) - assessment framework, item guidelines, and prototype test items
  
• 2016 Presentation slides on the work of the SAIC - by Dawn Cope and Kevin King - includes item specification guidelines and assessment framework ideas
• SCASS - Information about this assessment network through CCSSO
• Cognitive labs webinar from Measured Progress (2016) - this CSSS webinar details the importance of student “think-alouds” in the item review process to see how they’re interpreting questions. Slides from the webinar
• Washington Assessment Story (2016) - slides from CSSS webinar sharing details on Washington’s state assessment development process
• An Analysis of Existing Science Assessments and the Implications for Developing Assessments for NGSS - 
  
• https://snapgse.stanford.edu/snap-reports/snap-report-analysis-existing-science-assessments
  
• Full report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1V44r8BY1ugYUZkNW5iQ2NpYW8/view?usp=sharing
• The “Condition of STEM” - National and State-by-State ACT Reports (linking to science and mathematics performance on this test, as well as student STEM career interests)
• Sample State Test Items from Michigan - computer-based items, developed by DRC
• STEM Gauge by Measured Progress - use this link to get a free topic-based set of assessment items
• California Summative Assessment System Practice Tests
• AIR Standardized Assessment - Sample NGSS Item Clusters
• CREATE Presentation: State Formative Assessment Initiatives
  
  

Teacher Evaluation

• Science Practices Leadership - CSSS Webinar Recording by Prof. Becca Lowenhaupt - discussing observation tools and video case studies for administrators to support evaluation of science practices. Link to slides.
  

Links to Earlier Work

• Performance-Based Science Assessments Webinar
  On October 24, 2012 CSSS members offered a 90 minute webinar describing performance-based science assessments. The webinar featured presentations by Edys Quellmalz, WestEd; Lauren Monowar-Jones, OH; Gail Hall, VT; and Liz Buttner, CT. Due to technical complications the first part of the webinar was not successfully recorded. CSSS members can access the powerpoint slides and the recorded portion of the webinar from the links below.
  Performance Assessments Webinar
  Performance Assessments Powerpoint Slides
• Taking Preliminary Steps to Integrate NGSS or NGSS-like Standards into Large-Scale Assessment, Presenters: Katie Bowler (Massachusetts) and April McCrae (Delaware)
  Massachusetts Science Assessments: Where We Are, We Might Be going
  First Steps in Preparing for NGSS Summative Assessment
• Integrating Practices into Items, Presenters: Tom Regan and Chris Lazzaro, College Board
  Integrating Practices into Items: Next Generation Assessments for Emerging Standards
• State & Territory Science Assessment Information and Websites
  The accompanying Excel spreadsheet presents useful information about different states' assessment of science including plans to utilize computer-based or technology-enhanced assessments. The information provides web sites for assessment which provides information about that state's science assessment. The designated specialist for science assessment and email address are also provided.
  CSSS State Assessment Information (Excel)

Large-Scale Assessment Discussion

• CollegeBoard - Integrating Practices into Items: Next Generation Assessments for Emerging Standards
  
• CSSS Large Scale Assessment Webinar - Adaptive Testing in Science
  
• Massachusetts Science Assessments: Where We Are, We Might be Going
  
• Next Generation Science Large-Scale Assessment Ideas and Discussion
  
• CSSS LSA NGSS Aligned Blueprints - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 (1 hr 3 min)
  
• CSSS LSA Kentucky Science Assessment Plans - Wednesday, November 12, 2014 (57 min)
  
• CSSS LSA Integrating Practices into Items - Tuesday, October 7, 2014 (1 hr 4 min)
  
• CSSS Large Scale Science Assessment - Monday, July 7, 2014 (53 min)
  

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