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May 12, 2004
Ballard & Tighe Begins Field Testing of New
NCLB-Compliant IPT 2005 Testing System for LEP
Students
BREA, CA (May 12, 2004)—Ballard & Tighe
has announced that development of its IPT 2005
testing system for limited English proficient
(LEP) students continues on schedule as thousands
of test items created for the IPT 2005 item bank
enter the field testing phase. Following NCLB
guidelines, this extensive item base concentrates
on Academic English and supports multiple states’
standards.
“We are developing a wholly new testing system
for use by states in 2005 with particular reference
to NCLB requirements,” said Dr. Sari Luoma,
Director of Assessment at Ballard & Tighe.
“The field testing will validate a substantive
group of items for inclusion in the system.”
To create the test items, Ballard & Tighe
conducted a series of item writing workshops under
the guidance of expert item writing specialists.
Experienced teachers worked in grade-span-specific
groups to write test items based on specifications
developed by the Ballard & Tighe assessment
team.
To ensure national representation and unbiased
items, the newly created items underwent careful
review by testing experts for technical appropriateness,
by current classroom teachers across the United
States for grade-level appropriateness, and by
a select panel of educators who screened the items
for bias and cultural/language sensitivity.
After passing these stringent reviews, the test
items were refined further before final approval.
Field testing will provide crucial information
about how the test items perform with real students
in an authentic test setting.
Currently, over 5,000 English language learners
at elementary, middle and high schools in 15 states
across the country are participating in field
testing numerous items designed to evaluate Listening,
Speaking, Reading, and Writing skills spanning
grade levels 1 to 12.
Every stage of the IPT 2005
test development is structured to ensure that
this new testing system measures up to NCLB requirements.
The field testing phase will establish horizontal
and vertical scaling for the tests. NCLB requires
that English language proficiency assessment show
incremental growth to determine whether students
have met their Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives
(AMAOs.) The IPT 2005 is designed to measure the
developmental path of English language abilities,
ranging from zero ability, through all the intermediate
stages, and up to grade-level English language
ability. The IPT 2005 tests will be both horizontally
and vertically scaled, allowing schools to show
annual progress for students from grades Pre-K
to Grade 12 on one standardized scale.
Ballard & Tighe’s assessment team will
analyze the field test results in preparation
for the development of the operational IPT 2005
test forms and support materials for pilot testing.
With the completion of pilot testing, the IPT
2005 test forms will be available for use by states
in the spring of 2005.
About Ballard & Tighe
Dedicated to making a difference in education,
Ballard & Tighe publishes a highly regarded
set of products that extend from assessing, identifying
and instructing students with limited English
proficiency to transitioning these students to
mainstream classrooms. The company was founded
in 1976 by Wanda Ballard and Phyllis Tighe, pioneers
in the field of educational ESL (English as a
Second Language.) Currently Ballard & Tighe
provides testing, instructional and training products
and services to more than 2,200 state, regional,
and local school systems throughout the United
States and internationally. Ballard & Tighe’s
staff of seasoned educators and technical product
developers is exclusively focused on delivering
language assessment, English language development,
and social studies materials and software, as
well as online professional development training
that will help ensure academic success for today’s
increasingly diverse student population.
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