Norm-Referenced Testing in Georgia with the Stanford Achievement Test Series

Georgia law requires all public school students in grades 3,5, and 8 be administered a norm-referenced test each year. Spring 2002 will be the second year students in Georgia public schools will be administered the Complete Battery of the Stanford Achievement Test Series, Ninth Edition (Stanford 9) multiple-choice assessment. School systems in Georgia have designated a week between March 11 and April 5 for about five hours of testing.

Norm-referenced tests help students, parents, and educators understand how the performance of Georgia students compares to students nationally. Test results are used to develop instructional activities and to evaluate educational programs with the goals of helping students succeed in school.

A video, Norm-Referenced Testing in Georgia with the Stanford 9, will be aired on PeachStar in December as a means to share information.
The goals of the video are to:

* Increase understanding of the Georgia norm-Referenced Testing program
* Define what a norm-referenced test is and how it is constructed
* Provide an overview of the Stanford 9
* Define and discuss how scores can be used instructionally