Michigan, like other states, has undertaken a process for analyzing the alignment of their K-12 assessments to the standards that have been adopted for Title I reporting. An independent analysis is preferred with some emphasis on matching the complexity of content expectations with assessment items. Michigan has used Norm Webb's method that includes depth-of-knowledge as a critical element of alignment.
While alignment is rather new in the field of educational assessment, it can be a helpful in evaluating the actual content of current assessments and developing a plan for improvement. Methods of validating these changes as they occur are also critical, not only to determine the effects of these changes over time, but also to study the consistency of alignment ratings when different assessment forms or panelists are used.
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