Volume 5 
July 2003 
Issue #1

The Ideal Role of Large-Scale Testing in a Comprehensive Assessment System, Charles A. DePascale, National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment, July 2003

Abstract

The role of large-scale assessment in public education has grown tremendously since the mid-1980s and unquestionably will continue to grow with the implementation of the assessment and accountability requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. In the rush to meet the demand to measure validly and reliably the performance of all students, however, it must not be forgotten that large-scale assessment is only one component of a comprehensive assessment system. The factors that led to the predominance of large-scale assessment are reviewed and the appropriate role of large-scale assessment in a comprehensive assessment system is discussed.