Classroom Assessment and Grading That Work

* What are the characteristics of an effective assessment program? * How can educators use national and state standards documents as a basis for creating a comprehensive, topic-based assessment system? * What types of assessment items and tasks are best suited to measuring student progress in mastering information, mental procedures, and psychomotor procedures? * Why does the traditional point system used for scoring often lead to incorrect conclusions about a student's actual knowledge? * What types of scoring and final grading systems provide the most accurate portrayal of a student's progress along a continuum of learning? In addition to providing teachers with all the tools they need to create a better assessment system, makes a compelling case for the potential of such a system to transform the culture of schools and districts, and to propel K-12 education to new levels of effectiveness and efficiency.