Encouraging and Supporting Compliance with Standards for Educational Tests

Uses and consequences of educational testing have increased dramatically in recent years. Professional standards to ensure fair treatment of all affected by test results are more important than ever, but standards for developing and using educational tests are only helpful if they are followed. Test developers and users each have a role to play in meeting testing standards, but these roles have become less distinct as developers work more collaboratively with users, particularly states, to develop tests customized to user specifications. This paper explores various mechanisms for increasing compliance with testing standards through collaborative efforts, including (1) specifying adherence to test standards in contracts with test developers; (2) use of Technical Advisory Committee (TACS) to guide test development processes; (3) requiring compliance with test standards as part of the peer review process for state accountability programs; and (4) oversight by independent organizations .