|
For Immediate Release
Contact: Anne-Marie Snow
Tel: (310) 559-4955 x104
Email: amsnow@ballard-tighe.com
Ballard & Tighe’s New IPT Testing System Selected by North Carolina
as Test of Choice to Meet NCLB Requirements.
BREA, CA – (August 8, 2005) – Ballard & Tighe, publisher of tests and instructional materials for limited English proficient (LEP) students, today announced that the company’s IPT/PEM Title III Testing Solution has been selected by the North Carolina State Board of Education to assess the language proficiency of its 75,000 LEP students.
The IPT is an innovative K-12 language proficiency testing system, specifically designed to help states meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The comprehensive IPT/PEM Title III Testing Solution includes scoring and reporting services offered by Pearson Educational Measurement (PEM), the largest provider of educational assessment products and services.
Dr. Fran Hoch, Second Language Studies Section Chief, announced that North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction had selected the new IPT as its test of choice to meet NCLB requirements. Ballard & Tighe’s IPT series of language assessments have been used throughout North Carolina since 2002. In 2005, the state began to look at various options for a high quality, full service language proficiency testing, scoring and reporting solution. Dr. Hoch indicated that, during their search, the state had looked at other testing instruments and had also participated in one of the consortia in the hope of finding the right fit, but ultimately decided that continuing with the IPT through the new IPT/PEM Title III Testing Solution was the best answer for North Carolina.
“North Carolina is the first state to officially select the new IPT to meet its NCLB-compliance needs. We are delighted that our three-year effort to develop the best in language proficiency testing has resulted in this important milestone,” said Dr. Roberta Stathis, president of Ballard & Tighe.
“We are ready to implement the new IPT statewide,” said Sarah McManus, Testing Policy and Operations Section Chief. “In conjunction with Ballard & Tighe, the Division of Accountability Services/North Carolina Testing Program will be providing training sessions on the new IPT at various locations across the state throughout the summer. Educators can register online for our summer training sessions by visiting the Accountability Services web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/policies/slep/,” added Ms. McManus.
“We look forward to working with the state of North Carolina and hope to have the opportunity to bring the benefits of the IPT/PEM Title III Testing Solution to many more states across the country. We can find an effective NCLB solution for any state’s needs — even those states that have contracted with consortia, as our selection by North Carolina demonstrates,” explained Dr. Stathis.
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 into mainstream classrooms. Ballard & Tighe has provided valid and reliable English language proficiency assessments for over 25 years. The company has provided testing, instructional and training products and services to more than 2,200 state, regional, and local school systems throughout the United States and internationally. For information, call 800-321-4332 or visit the Ballard & Tighe’s special NCLB-related website at www.nclb.ballard-tighe.com
About Pearson Educational Measurement
Pearson Educational Measurement, the largest comprehensive provider of educational assessment products, services and solutions, helps states and large school districts meet the requirements of education reform while using testing and assessment to promote learning. As a pioneer, PEM has been a trusted partner in district, state and national assessments for more than 50 years. PEM's full-service offerings for K-12 and other assessment organizations include PEMSolutions™(Pearson Educational Measurement Solutions) for custom assessments, both online and on paper; Pearson PASeries™ (Progress Assessment Series) for formative assessments; Pearson Perspective™ for performance reporting; and a wide range of data warehousing and other educational assessment products and services. Pearson Educational Measurement operates as a business of Pearson Education, the world's largest education company.
back to press
|
