ThinkLink assessments match the state standards and high stakes tests
before offering the Predictive Assessment Series in a specific
state.
Educators in a "ThinkLink State" can be certain that Predictive Assessment
benchmark tests and mini-assessment items are carefully aligned by
grade and subject matter experts. They are reviewed multiple times
to assure a true match to each state with careful examination
of:
- released item samples
- published "State Specific" testing benchmark definitions
- state-defined content standards and limits, and
- state publication of proficiencies and previous year's high
stakes' scores.
This assures content validity and statistically reliable tests and
items with the appropriate range of difficulty levels and item formats.
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Matching procedures ensure that ThinkLink benchmark tests meet the
requirements for scientifically based research defined by NCLB.
In other words, in a math test, the overall average is useful, but
the average within a skill, such as number sense or geometry is most
useful to teachers. Similarly in each subject, data must be available
on each skill to guide teachers and students on where improvement
can occur. With state-published averages, a testing company must show
that its assessments match state difficulty levels by skill.
Thus, predictive assessments can only have content validity when test
items and skill results are state specific. Anybody can claim content
validity. Only by viewing the proposed tests and reports that compare
actual state results to test company results is it possible to determine
if an assessment demonstrates content validity.
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