DESE Educational Assessment & Student Evaluation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A principal wants to evaluate the effectiveness of a new reading program. Which type of assessment data would be MOST useful for this purpose?
- Individual diagnostic assessment results
- Pre- and post-program benchmark assessment data (Correct answer)
- A single summative test administered once
- Anecdotal teacher observations
Correct answer: Pre- and post-program benchmark assessment data
Comparing benchmark data before and after program implementation allows educators to measure the program's impact on student learning outcomes.
Question 2: Which accommodation is specifically designed to support English Language Learners during standardized testing?
- Extended time for all students
- Bilingual glossaries or word-to-word dictionaries (Correct answer)
- Reduced test length
- Modified scoring criteria
Correct answer: Bilingual glossaries or word-to-word dictionaries
Bilingual glossaries provide ELL students access to academic vocabulary in their native language without providing content answers, supporting linguistic access without compromising validity.
Question 3: What is the PRIMARY purpose of anchor papers in a writing assessment scoring process?
- To provide students with model essays to copy
- To calibrate scorers and establish consistent scoring standards (Correct answer)
- To replace rubrics for experienced teachers
- To serve as the final assessment tool
Correct answer: To calibrate scorers and establish consistent scoring standards
Anchor papers are scored student work samples used to train and calibrate scorers, ensuring consistent application of rubric criteria.
Question 4: When a teacher provides specific, descriptive feedback on student work rather than just a grade, this practice MOST directly supports:
- Summative evaluation
- Norm-referenced comparison
- Assessment as learning / self-regulation (Correct answer)
- Standardized scoring
Correct answer: Assessment as learning / self-regulation
Descriptive feedback helps students understand what they did well and what to improve, supporting metacognition and self-regulated learning.
Question 5: Which term describes the percentage of students who answer a test item correctly, used to evaluate item difficulty?
- Point-biserial correlation
- Item difficulty index (p-value) (Correct answer)
- Item discrimination index
- Reliability coefficient
Correct answer: Item difficulty index (p-value)
The item difficulty index (p-value) is the proportion of students who answer an item correctly, ranging from 0 (nobody correct) to 1.0 (everyone correct).
Question 6: A teacher uses a checklist to observe and document student behavior during a science lab. This is an example of:
- Selected-response assessment
- Observational assessment (Correct answer)
- Standardized performance testing
- Criterion-referenced written assessment
Correct answer: Observational assessment
Observational assessment involves systematically watching and recording student behaviors or skills using tools such as checklists or anecdotal records.
Question 7: Under Massachusetts law and DESE regulations, how often must students with disabilities in grades 3-8 participate in state assessments?
- Only if their IEP team determines it is appropriate
- Annually, with accommodations or alternate assessments as specified in the IEP (Correct answer)
- Every other year to reduce testing burden
- Only in grades 4 and 8
Correct answer: Annually, with accommodations or alternate assessments as specified in the IEP
Federal law (ESSA) and DESE regulations require all students, including those with disabilities, to participate annually in state assessments with appropriate accommodations or alternate assessments.
DESE Educational Assessment & Student Evaluation 5
A principal wants to evaluate the effectiveness of a new reading program.
Which type of assessment data would be MOST useful for this purpose?