San Diego meeting called to order by President Joe O’Reilly.  Approximately 55 individuals present.

I. Joe shared the news of the death of Peter, the 4th president of NATD.  Members shared recollections.
 

II. Joe extended appreciation to Steve Henry on behalf of the membership for the redesign, production, and dissemination of the new NATD pin.
 

III. Feedback was sought on the role NATD should play as the national test is debated.  Membership suggested that NATD attempt to join the effort to help guide the development.

Decision:  Ad hoc committee was formed.

Committee charge:  Follow developments of national test and use NATD listserve for a discussion venue.

Members:  Linda Elman (chair), Jim Myerburg, Judy Levinson, Kevin Matter, Ray Fenton, and NYC Joe.
 

IV. Status of 1996 and 1997 NATD Goals reviewed (per handout).

Next steps to be taken:

A. Connect more with State Departments of testing.  Provide 1 year free membership.  Ask SEAs to publicize NATD to LEA test directors.  Offer SEAs time on next year’s agenda.

B. Consider incorporating applicable Division H Award wining submissions from last few years (e.g., NRT/CRT reports; training materials) on NATD homepage (perhaps in collaboration with ERS).

C. Finalize NATD’s Guiding Principles for Performance Assessment.

Decision:  Formulate ad hoc committee to include Joe Hansen (chair), Mardel Kolls, Guy Glidden, Nancy Baenen, Mary Yakimowski, Mike Herrrick, Mary Robinson, and Marlene Merrill.

Committee Charge:  Finalize document.

Next Steps:  Joe will ask committee members to submit suggested modifications and will communicate with committee via e-mail.

D. Workgroup facilitators will seek information for placement on the webpage.

Ray Fenton provided asesssment policy information.
Nancy Shiffler – ethics
Nancy Baemen – training materials
Derrick Nottingham – Title I evaluation
Linda Elman – standard setting
Gretchen Ridgeway – accountability systems
Barbara Helms – job descriptions
William Brown – technical aspects of equating

Next Steps:  Each asked to “nudge’ others to solicit information electronically from others.
 

V. Further updates to webpage provided by Steve Henry.  Assistance is sought from four additional individuals to assist with postings.
A. Listserve has now been operationalized for 4-6 months.

B. Current/future information available: convention information, DRE Highlights, NATD publications, past newsletters, district test policies, job descriptions, assorted groupings of pertinent links, membership directory (n=224; 133 with e-mail addresses).
 

VI. NATD Brochure presented and approved.  Nancy (ERS) will do mass mailing to approximately 15,000 districts.  Will also send brochure to state testing directors.
 

VII. Suggestion made to extend appreciation to organizations that support NATD on webpage (ERS, CTB, Riverside, NCS, HBEM).  Membership agreed to place pertinent information near top of NATD homepage.
 

VIII. Discussed amount of time spent testing.  Joe compiled/distributed survey results.  As a follow-up, Joe asked that ALL complete and return survey.  Survey addresses:

- What tests do we administer?
- This year’s testing schedule.
- Test administration times.

 (Congrats to Mesa – highest amount of time spent testing!)
 
 Based on Michael Kean’s suggestion, Joe and Maryellen will be given as future additional resources to handle media requests on this issue.
 

IX. Discussion held on the current status of testing special education (and ESL) students tied to Reauthorization of IDEA.
 

  next year …  Montreal.