AERA-I: Education in the Professions Forum

Dear Colleagues:

As you perhaps know, ACT, Inc. has been awarded a contract by the National
Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) to develop achievement levels on the 2006
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in grade 12 economics.

Both ACT and NAGB are committed to having input on the development of the
achievement level setting (ALS) process by all individuals, groups, and
organizations having an interest in the outcome of the ALS process.  To
that end, ACT would like to invite you to review and comment on any or all
parts of the Design Document.  The Design Document and comment form will be
available at the following web address: <http://www.act.org/naepeconomics>.
The Design Document can be viewed online or downloaded and reviewed at your
convenience.  Likewise, the comment form may be completed online or printed
and mailed to us with your comments.

Other products of the standard setting project and comment forms will be
placed on ACT’s website as they become available. The following are
descriptions of each of the products to be posted on the website along with
the approximate date they will be made available.

§     Design Document – This document provides the rationale and design for
the achievement level setting activities. [Available by September 14, 2006]

§     Achievement Level Cutscores – The cutscores are derived from the
preliminary achievement level descriptions by the standard setting
panelists. They determine the percentage of students that are reported to
be at or above each achievement level. [Available by April 2, 2007]

§     Exemplar Items – The exemplar items represent what the typical
student at each achievement level should know and be able to do. [Available
by April 2, 2007]

Finally, we realize that some people may find it inconvenient to access the
website to review these materials. If you would prefer to receive direct
mailings (hard copy) of the products and comment forms posted on the
website, please contact the project manager Teri Fisher at 319/337-1498 or
[log in to unmask] to be put on our direct mailing list.

All comments received on the products of this contract will be shared with
NAGB as well as our technical advisory committee. We would appreciate
receiving your comments on the Design Document by October 2, 2006.  For the
other materials listed above, we would appreciate receiving your comments
within two weeks of the date they become available.

Thank you for your interest in this important aspect of education in the
U.S.  Please feel free to contact Project Director Christina Hamme Peterson
if you have any questions or concerns.  She can be reached at 319/339-3085
or [log in to unmask]

Cathy Lacina
ACT, Statistical Research
Phone (319)341-2552
Fax (319) 341-2284

AERA Division I: Education in the Professions Forum
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