Glossary

Adjustments that do not alter the assessed construct that are applied to test presentation, environment, content, format (including response format), or administration conditions for particular test takers.

Assessment used to measure the performance of a population of students who are unable to participate in the general assessments, with or without accommodations as determined by the student’s individualized education program (IEP), 504 plan, or English language learner (ELL) plan.

The initial performance results, against which future results will be compared.

A test administered via a computer in which students respond by using a keyboard, mouse, or microphone.

An assessment used to assess the current level of student achievement and determine how prepared students are to learn key content and skills tied to content standards.

An assessment for student learning conducted in the process of teaching to inform teaching.

An assessment designed to evaluate what students have learned in relation to mid-term goals and is delivered at regular and specified intervals.

A standardized test designed, validated, and implemented to rank a student’s performance by comparing that performance to the performance of the student’s peers.

An assessment developed to measure how well students have mastered specific knowledge and skills described in content standards. Standardized tests may or may not be based on specific learning standards.

An assessment of learning conducted at the end of a unit, course and/or school year to assess the level of understanding/ mastery of course or grade-level standards.