Bill S.277

An Act requiring the use of a computer-adaptive assessment to identify student achievement, growth, and for education system accountability

By Ms. DiZoglio (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 277) of Julie Eidukonis and Barry R. Finegold for legislation to require the use of a computer-adaptive assessment to identify student achievement, growth, and for education system accountability. Education.

A computer-based adaptive assessment accurately identifies the place of achievement along the K-12 curriculum for each student, regardless of the child’s current grade placement, and identifies whether each student is performing at, below, or above the level typical for the age-based grade. Students answer test questions on a computer, and the test adapts based on the answers. It uses a range of questions spanning multiple grade levels, to identify the child’s level of achievement in each subject. The resulting data would inform districts about the actual learning readiness of each student, so they may be placed in appropriate learning environments. The use of an adaptive state assessment would provide a fair accountability system for educators, documenting true student growth from year to year, regardless of any student’s level of achievement.