How Will States Develop Standards Tests?

Each state will develop its own testing program and set its own standards for achievement. NCLB monitors accountability by tracking each district's "annual yearly progress" to ensure that every child learns, every school has the opportunity to improve, and every dollar is spent wisely. All state standards tests must:

Reflect the state's academic standards (test relevant skills);

Be valid, reliable, and consistent with professional and technical standards (the tests must be of high quality);

Include multiple measures of achievement including higher-order thinking skills and understanding (the test must provide a variety of ways for children to demonstrate what they have learned);

Provide accommodations for children with disabilities (allow some modifications in how the test is given and/or how students demonstrate learning);

Include students with limited English proficiency (LEP) (When LEP students have attended schools in the USA for three consecutive years, they must be administered in English in reading and language arts.)

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