WestEd has provided technical support to the Nevada Department of Education and State Board of Education in the development and validation of the Nevada High School Proficiency Examination (HSPE) Program and the standards on which the program is based. In particular, WestEd has:
- Developed a bias-review process to ensure that all HSPE items are fair for all Nevada students;
- Participated in the training of the HSPE reading, mathematics, and science item development committees to improve the quality of HSPE items;
- Worked with Nevada educators, business representatives, and the State Board of Education to set the passing scores for the HSPE; and
- Worked to ensure the legal and technical defensibility of the HSPE, including the convening of a Technical Advisory Committee.
Nevada has expanded its Proficiency Examination Program to include criterion-referenced assessments in reading, math, and science. More specifically, Nevada’s Program includes assessment of reading at grades 3, 5, and 8; mathematics at grades 3, 5, and 8 and science at grades 5 and 8. At grade 3 the assessments involve selected-response items, while at grades 5 and 8 the assessments include both selected- and constructed-response items. Currently, WestEd is serving as a subcontractor to Harcourt Educational Measurement in the development of both the HSPE and criterion-referenced assessments.
WestEd is continuing to lead bias review, facilitate item development activities, convene the Technical Advisory Committee, and serve as a resource to the State Board of Education and State Department of Education for both policy and technical issues.
Director: Stanley Rabinowitz
Contact: Stanley Rabinowitz
Tel: 415.615.3154
Email: srabino@wested.org
This project is part of WestEd's Assessment & Standards Development Services.
WestEd staff involved with this project:- Patricia Armstrong, Director of Test Development
- Meghan Bell, Science Content Specialist
- Carol Burkhart, Administrative Assistant
- Ian Carey, Senior Desktop Publisher/Graphic Designer
- Robert diGiorgio, Database Developer
- Joanne Jensen, Director of Assessment Client Relations, Assessment and Standards Development Services
- Claudia Long, Senior Research Associate
- Stanley Rabinowitz, Director, Assessment & Standards Development Services
- Ramon Ronquillo, Desktop Publisher / Graphic Designer
- Amy Washburn, Program Assistant
