Broad-Based Involvement in a Study of Alternative Testing Strategies for Louisiana.

In 1984 the Louisiana State Superintendent of Education directed the Bureau of Evaluation to conduct a study of alternative testing strategies for the State, keeping in mind the possibility that retaining the current testing program was an alternative to be considered. The Bureau designed a study calling for the involvement of four distinct groups: (1) the general public; (2) parents of children affected by the State testing program; (3) local education agency (LEA) teaching and central office staff; and (4) Staff Program administrators or policymakers. Participants were selected by local superintendents for skills as opinion-leaders, and by State Department of Education administrators at the state level. Group interviews and individual interviews provided data. Groups were almost unanimous in identifying major purposes for a state testing program: (1) parents wanted information about how their children were doing on skills beyond the minimums; (2) LEA staff felt this should not be a requirement for a promotion; and (3) both groups were happy in suggesting a strategy that would give normative data on higher level skills, but that would not count them as a promotion requirement. Pre-interview training proved to be successful. This study procedure was extremely labor-intensive, and suggestions from interviews had to be carefully weighed by technical staff. (LMO)