From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--End-of-Course - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--Value Added - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

Third Grade Reading Policies PDF - This paper outlines state policies relating to 3rd-grade reading proficiency, including identification of, intervention for, and retention of struggling readers in the P-3 grades. The paper provides a state-by-state policy summary, sample statutory language, and highlights from bills enacted this year. (Stephanie Rose, ECS, August 2012) ...

End-of-Course Exams PDF - This report identifies the states with current or pending state-level end-of-course assessment (EOC) programs, the subjects in which EOCs are administered in the states, and the EOCs (if any) students must pass to graduate from high school. (Jennifer Dounay Zinth, Education Commission of the States, March 2012)...

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--NAEP (NAEP Results and NAEP Organization) - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--Performance Based/Portfolio - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--Legal Issues - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

What Governors Need to Know: Highlights of State Education Systems PDF - This multistate compilation includes states' number of operating districts, average students per district, per-student spending, free or reduced-price lunch eligible students, percent of K-12 revenue from state sources, state and local school revenue, full-day kindergarten requirements, compulsory school ages and more. (Kyle Zinth and Melodye Bush, Education Commission of the States, updated December 2010)...

The Progress of Education Reform: End-of-Course Exams PDF - In recent years, criticism of high school graduates’ lack of readiness for college and work has led a number of states to raise high school graduation requirements — particularly in terms of the number and rigor of courses students must pass. This issue of The Progress of Education Reform addresses end-of-course assessments at the high school level....

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--Formative/Interim - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

State Approaches to Improving High School Outcomes: A National Perspective - On October 6, ECS Senior Policy Analyst Jennifer Dounay Zinth presented to Oklahoma's Legislative Task Force on Achieving Classroom Excellence, created by 2009 S.B. 1168. Dounay Zinth's presentation raises the need for states to focus greater policy attention on the middle grades, and provides information about national trends in high school assessments, including: end-of-course and exit exams, substitute assessments for students who do not pass exit exams and administration of the ACT to all 11th graders.(Jennifer Dounay Zinth, Education Commission of the States, October 2009)...

Exit Exams - This database provides 50-state information on numerous areas related to high school exit exams. (Michael Colasanti, Education Commission of the States, March 2008)...

High School-Level Assessment - This 50-state database provides information on key questions related to statewide assessment at the high school level, including whether voluntary or mandatory assessments include college-ready indicators, and whether end-of-course exams are used for exit purposes or NCLB accountability. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, April 2007)...

Strategies to Empower Low-Income and Minority Students in Gaining Admission to and Paying for College PDF - This policy brief identifies barriers created by federal, state and local policies that pose a particular challenge for aspiring first-generation college students in the college and financial aid application process, and provides suggestions for how state-level policy might address each barrier. A final section on "other" barriers to college entry seeks to alert policymakers to emerging issues for which adequate institutional, state and federal policy responses are needed. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, November 2008)...

Special Populations: Inclusion in State High School Assessments - This database provides 50-state information on how English language learners and students with disabilities are included in statewide high school-level assessments and exit exams. (Tim Taylor and Michael Colasanti, Education Commission of the States, June 2007)...

Accommodations for English Language Learners in State Assessments PDF - Students wo do not speak English as their first language are often provided with certain testing accommodations on state assessments. For English language learners, these accommodations can be described as direct and indirect linguistic support accommodations. This ECS StateNote explores the accommodations made in each state. (Michael Colasanti, Education Commission of the States, July 2007)...

High School Level-Assessments: Purpose(s) of Exams MS Word PDF - This ECS StateNote indicates the purposes served by statewide assessments administered in grades 9-12. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, February 2007)...

High School-Level Assessments: Subjects Tested MS Word PDF - This ECS StateNote table below indicates the subject areas by state in which students in any grades 9-12 must be administered one or more assessments. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, February 2007)...

Let's Talk About…Minimum Competency Testing PDF - This classic 1978 ECS report discusses interest in minimum competency testing along with its related issues, options and arguments. The report was designed for three primary purposes, for use: (1) as a discussion guide, (2) as a mailed questionnaire, and (3) in education classes or local staff development workshops. (Henry M. Brickell, Education Commission of the States, 1978)...

College-Ready Standards - This database provides 50-state information on state policies requiring all students to (1) complete a college/employer-recommended curriculum and (2) take the ACT or SAT. The database also includes disaggregated college-readiness data from the Manhattan Institute. (Jennifer Dounay, Education Commission of the States, January 2006)...

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--Computer Based - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--Accommodations - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--College Entrance Exams - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

From the ECS State Policy Database: Cheating - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....

From the ECS State Policy Database: Assessment--High Stakes/Competency - This policy database—updated weekly—is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States....