NATD NEWSLETTER

January, 1987

Report from President Hall

As I write this, it is almost Christmas Eve but, as you read it the new year has come. Some of the events of the year past are not what I would have chosen. Perhaps, you feel that way too. Some have experienced losses; we all have too much work and too little time. On the other hand, there have been successes. Some have married, published papers, and moved into new positions.

Each of you is a valued friend, and as the new year begins, I hope that you will experience joy in your personal life and satisfaction in your work for much longer than the next twelve months.

Enclosed is our first occasional paper. I think you will find it thought provoking.

The NATD brochure goes to the printer today.

I will be representing NATD at the American Association of School Administrators in February and at the Texas Testing Conference, also in February.

We have four excellent symposia on the NCME program for the April meeting in Washington, D.C. (see below)

Happy New Year!

UPDATES

1987 Program

President-Elect, Mike Stozeski writes that NATD will be well represented at the joint AERA/NCME/NATD meeting to be held April 20-24 in Washington, D.C. Four sessions organized by NATD will be on the program.

1. Riding the Rasch Tiger, an NATD Symposium. Organized by Chadwick Karr, Portland State University, Gresham, Oregon.

2. Student Achievement Comparisons Among States: Issues and Status, an NATD Symposium. Organized by Robert Ziomek, Brownsville School District, Brownsville, Texas.

3. Standardized Test Selection Practices in the Public Schools. Author: Whit Johnstone, Irving Public Schools, Irving, Texas.

4. Perspectives on Public Reporting of Test Results, an NATD Symposium. Organized by James Myerberg. Montgomery County Pubilc Schools, Rockville, Maryland.

The next NATD newsletter will have details on the times and places of NATD meetings, festivities, etc.

NATD/DRE Committee on Concerns Regarding National Testing

Bob Ziomek reports that the joint committee of members of the Directors of Research and Evaluation group and National Association of Test Directors formulated at the April, 1986 meeting to study issues involved in national achievement testing has been active. As a first task, members wrote down their concerns/issues and sent them to Bob or Carol Robinson (for DRE). Carol and Rob have put those comments together and sent everything back to everybody for their review. Is this a modified Delphi approach? In late January, a conference call among all members will be held. At that time, the advisability of session on this topic. (see above) Thanks to Bob, Janie Hall, Michael Kean, Fillen Pecham for NATD and Carol, Sharon Johnson-Lewis, Walt Hathaway, and Paul LeMahieu for DRE.

RESOURCES

FairTest: What is it?

FairTest, a project organized in October, 1985 as a division of the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, will be of interest to those NATD members who worry about the over-emphasis on and/or misuse of testing results. A review of FairTest News Update #4 covered such issues as teacher testing, testing the handicapped and test company errors.

FairTest describes itself as a “national public interest organization which works to ensure that the 20 million standardized test administered each year are fair, open and educationally sound.”

For more information, write: FairTest, PO Box 1272, Harvard Square Station, Cambridge, MA 02238 (617) 489-0461. Cost for the quarterly FairTest News Updates is $15.00.

AWARDS! AWARDS!

The AREA Division awards competition has been recently announced in the January, 1987 Pre-Post Press, the Divison H newsletter. Nominations for awards are being sought in the following categories:

Best Report on Advances in Methodology Best Report on Testing Results
Best Report on Instructional Research Best Report on Instructional Evaluation
Best Report on a Management Study Best Summary Report
Best Report on School District Statistical Profile Best Report of a Policy Study
Best Report on Institutional Research

The closing date for applications is January 31, 1987. To get more information on criteria write or call:

Patricia W. Kees, (904) 390-2105
Director, Research and Evaluation
Duvall County Public Schools
1701 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207

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