Resource

Addressing Accountability Issues Including Comparability

July 2016

Susan Lyons, Scott Marion, Lillian Pace, Matt Williams

Description

The report "Addressing Accountability Issues Including Comparability in the Design and Implementation of an Innovative Assessment and Accountability System," authored by Susan Lyons, Scott Marion, Lorrie Pace, and Matt Williams, provides a framework for states to develop and implement innovative assessment systems under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This report addresses the critical challenge of ensuring comparability in assessment results within and across pilot and non-pilot districts. Key sections of the report include defining comparability, designing assessments with comparability in mind, and methods for establishing a strong evidence base to support claims of comparability. The report also highlights state and district roles, offering a detailed case study of New Hampshire's Performance Assessment of Competency Education (PACE) system as an example of successfully addressing comparability in an innovative assessment context.