Questar Assessment Experts to Present at Upcoming CCSSO 40th Annual National Conference on Student Assessment
- Conference to Celebrate its 40th Year -
Apple Valley, MN, May 11, 2010 — Questar Assessment, Inc. (www.QuestarAI.com), a leading educational assessment provider for states, school districts, and higher education institutions, has announced that three of its industry experts will be presenting at the upcoming Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) 40th Annual National Conference on Student Assessment. The conference will take place the week of June 20–23, 2010, at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan.
“NCSA is a very important annual event for assessment industry professionals,” said Roy Lipner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Questar Assessment, Inc. “Questar looks forward to participating as conference sponsor, as well as contributing thought leadership in Questar-led sessions.”
Questar presentations include:
Perspectives On Equating: Considerations for Alternate Assessments
Timothy Vansickle, Ph.D., Vice President of Psychometrics and Research, Questar Assessment
Vincent J. Dean, Ph.D., Michigan Department of Education
Scott Marion, National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment
Edward D. Roeber, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Adam E. Wyse, Ph.D., Michigan Department of Education
Jim Yesseldyke, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
The development of alternate assessments for students with disabilities plays a pivotal role in state and national accountability systems. This session examines one state’s efforts and the associated challenges it encountered when attempting to equate its alternate assessments. Multiple perspectives are presented on why states may or may not decide to equate their alternate assessments.
Assessing Reading Ability Requires Knowing What It Is
Michael Beck, Senior Vice President of Research and Assessment Services, Questar Assessment
Sheila Potter, Vice President of Curriculum Services, Questar Assessment
Roger Farr, Indiana University
Barbara Kapinus, National Education Association
Presenters address how to construct reading tests to yield valid instructional reading levels (IRLs). IRLs are the single most important piece of information that can be provided to improve students’ reading. How group assessments can be built and validated to yield IRLs will be explained. Data evidencing such information will be presented, as will information about using IRLs to improve learning.
Questar is a gold sponsor at the conference and will sponsor the conference program guide. In addition to sponsorship, Questar will also be exhibiting.
About Questar Assessment, Inc.
Questar Assessment, Inc., is a leading educational assessment provider for states, schools, and school districts. Headquartered in Minnesota and New York, Questar offers comprehensive custom assessment services—from large-scale statewide assessment programs to alternate, modified, and English language proficiency assessments. Questar provides complete, end-to-end services designed to address all aspects of assessment from test design, development, calibration, and psychometric services to print production, distribution, scanning, scoring, reporting, and data analysis. Questar also offers customized online testing services to schools and educational entities in the K–12 market. For further information, visit www.QuestarAI.com or call 800-800-2598.
About the Council of Chief State School Officers
CCSSO is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five United States extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks member consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public. For further information, visit www.ccsso.org or call 202-336-7000.