WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today announced his support for H.R. 2228, the Assessment Accuracy and Improvement Act, which would help educators better assess student achievement through the use of a computer-based adaptive testing system that more accurately pinpoints students’ grade level performance. This is in contrast to current law which allows limited types of standardized testing that can only identify if students are performing at or below their grade level. However, H.R. 2228 would give states the option to implement comprehensive adaptive testing systems to fulfill Elementary and Secondary Education Act requirements, which many states are currently barred from doing.
“In order to help our teachers better perform, we need a system that better assesses students’ performance,” said Butterfield. “Without a clear or accurate picture of student achievement we are limited in our efforts to reform education and meet academic needs. The Assessment Accuracy and Improvement Act will grant states the option to use a dynamic computer-based system that will more accurately detail the academic achievement of students and help improve K-12 education.”
North Carolina is one of several states that received a $160 million grant from the Race to the Top Program to develop computer-based adaptive assessments to better measure student performance and inform future teaching instructions. Adaptive testing measures student grade level by adjusting the difficulty of the test questions based on the student’s response. Correct answers will prompt questions of increased difficulty. Incorrect responses generally result in questions of lesser difficulty.
A number of national testing programs have already adopted the adaptive testing assessment model including the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, Graduate Record Examination, and the Graduate Management Admissions Test.
The Assessment Accuracy and Improvement Act was originally introduced by Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI-06) in the 112th Congress. Butterfield is the lead Democrat co-sponsoring this bill.
“In order to help our teachers better perform, we need a system that better assesses students’. You can’t be serious, Butterfield. Providing up to date books, administrative support, realistic discipline policies and mandatory parental involvement would enable teachers to readily assess their students level of achievement. Spending our educational funds on state of the art testing technology actually undercuts education. Put that money to a more practical use.