In other subjects areas, more development is needed. It is anticipated that a combination of existing criterion-referenced tests, common performance tasks, and work sample methods will be used to assess the standards. A method for reporting student performance on the assessments will be developed. Teachers from the pilot high schools are invited to participate in the development process as well as in the pilot testing. Teachers are trained in the use of standards and the scoring of common assessment tasks and student work.
Teachers use the system to grade the work of high school juniors and seniors.
During future implementation of the system, standards will be graded as they are met by students. For the pilot, it is necessary to have information on seniors so data can be obtained on their success in post-secondary education or work the following year. A sample of student work will be graded by an independent evaluator to ensure that the system is being applied consistently across students, schools, and regions of the state. Additional high schools, post-secondary education institutions, and employers will be brought into the process as the system is being perfected, probably at the beginning of the second year. Students who graduate from high school need to be prepared to succeed in college, university, technical institute, or work.