Background: During the Fall of 2000, staff members met with representatives of stakeholder groups to evaluate the testing instruments available for implementation to address the statutory requirements of IC 20-6.1-3-10.1. The recommendation was that the Reading Specialist Test (0300) best met the requirements outlined by the legislation. Following that recommendation, a Standard Setting and Validation Study was conducted on January 10, 2001. The proposed score is based on the study value minus one standard error of measurement. Attached to this memo are tables which include the projected success rate based on information from Indiana standard-setting activities, and also qualifying score data from other states where the tests currently are in use. The complete report on the standard-setting is available for review on request.

It is important to note that the standard setting activities were specifically directed to the population of newly prepared elementary teachers. This fact is reflected in the proposed qualifying score and should be considered when interpreting the national testing data provided by ETS.

Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Board approve the proposed qualifying scores and begin the promulgation process for these scores.

The Indiana Professional Standards Board Action:

Attachments:

Testing Statute amendment Projected Success Rate Test Study Value and Standard Error of Measurement Information from Praxis Series on Validation and Standard-Setting Procedures