During the 1992-93 school year, fourth and eighth graders in participating school districts began compiling portfolios in mathematics and writing. These portfolios hold work samples that reflect the student's mastery of seven state mathematics criteria and five writing criteria. The teacher and the student select the contents of the portfolio, except for the results of the uniform assessment in mathematics and writing, which are included in all portfolios. Teachers score their own students' portfolios - an unusual practice in state assessment, since most states use trained scorers to ensure uniform scoring. A grade ten portfolio in mathematics is being planned.
Discussions are also underway to establish a fine arts portfolio.
Two other features of the assessment program account for its popularity as well. First, Vermont's teachers and students are actively involved in selecting work to be placed in students' portfolios, and teachers grade their own students' portfolios. The responses of state student assessment programs to educational reform. Council for Educational Development and Research. All rights reserved.