Assessment Publications

EdSource offers a wide range of publications that provide policy analysis and data related to assessment and testing in California public schools. This page lists recent EdSource publications, including EdSource Reports that you can order through our secure e-commerce system, and briefs you can download free.

Note: Downloadable publications are available as PDFs. You will need Acrobat Reader to view and print them.

As a non-profit organization, EdSource depends on the sale of these publications to help support our work. We thank you for your order and for respecting our copyright by not reproducing our publications without permission. Contact the EdSource office about our generous bulk discounts for multiple copies.

Raising African American Student Achievement: California Goals, Local Outcomes (May 2008) This 24-page report looks at how California's nearly half-million African American students are doing academically and explores how and where these students are succeeding. The report summarizes state-level trends and looks at varying outcomes across districts and schools. Free download. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $8.00

NAEP and the California Standards Tests: A Case of Apples and Oranges (May 2008) The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and California Standards Tests (CSTs) appear to offer conflicting reports on the academic performance of California’s students. This 12-page report explores some of the factors that explain why the two tests yield different but valuable portraits of student achievement. READ MORE     qty: Buy to download now (select Qty. 1), $5.00     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $5.00

2008 Resource Cards on California Schools (April 2008) This convenient spiral-bound volume contains the latest data on school finance as well as information on students, teachers, and California's accountability system. (If you experience problems when ordering online, please contact our office directly at 650/917-9481.) READ MORE     qty: Buy to download now (select Qty. 1), $10.00     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $10.00

Las Matemáticas y las Ciencias: La Clave para Triunfar en las Profesiones Más Prósperas de California (January 2008) (enero de 2008) Algunos estudiantes--al igual que sus padres—piensan que las matemáticas y las ciencias no son de gran valor para su futuro. Pero conforme más dependemos de la tecnología en nuestra vida diaria, más indispensable es disponer de una base sólida en matemáticas y ciencias para triunfar en la economía global de hoy y obtener buenos salarios en las carreras de mayor crecimiento de California. Esta serie de preguntas y respuestas trata el tema de lo que es necesario hacer hoy para que los estudiantes estén preparados para los empleos de mañana. Descargue una versión PDF gratis. READ MORE

Math and Science: Gateways to California’s Fastest-growing Careers (January 2008) This handy, two-page guide for students and parents discusses what students need to do today to prepare for tomorrow's jobs. Free download. READ MORE

Math and Science Teachers: Recruiting and Retaining California’s Workforce (January 2008) This four-page policy brief looks at the challenges involved in recruiting and retaining fully prepared math and science teachers. It also outlines actions California policymakers and educators are taking to address the issue. Free download. READ MORE

Executive Summary: Math and Science Education for the California Workforce: It Starts with K–12 (January 2008) This two-page summary of the 2008 EdSource report highlights the education requirements of some of the state's fastest-growing occupations. It also looks at math and science performance and enrollment data for middle and high school students. Free download. READ MORE

Math and Science Education for the California Workforce: It Starts with K–12 (January 2008) This 24-page report looks at current projections for California’s workforce needs in several important science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields and the extent to which California’s standards-based reforms have affected student achievement in math and science. It also reviews the performance of traditionally low-achieving student subgroups and of the highest-achieving students. Free download. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $8.00

California's School Accountability System Under the Federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) (August 2007) This publication describes Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and how it affects California. Updated August 2007. (Available free online.) READ MORE

Frequently Asked Questions About the No Child Left Behind Act or NCLB (August 2007) A comprehensive list of questions and answers about the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Updated August 2007. (Available free online.) READ MORE

Trends and Comparisons in California School Finance (January 2007) This data-rich report looks at how school district revenues and expenditures in California have changed over time, how they compare to other states, and how they relate to state and federal reform policies. READ MORE     qty: Buy to download now (select Qty. 1), $5.00     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $5.00

The Academic Performance Index (API) (May 2006) The API is used to compare the performance of California schools and is the centerpiece of the state's accountability program. However, the enactment of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2002, caused the API to take a back seat to NCLB’s “adequate yearly progress (AYP)” approach. This publication describes both the API and AYP and explains why the former is still important to California's school accountability system. View free online. READ MORE

CAHSEE at a Glance (February 2006) This page lists EdSource resources that provide insight and information on the California High School Exit Exam. READ MORE

Alternatives to the CAHSEE were considered (February 2006) While many feel that the CAHSEE is a good measure of what students should know to graduate from high school, others believe that alternatives should be provided. Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell’s office developed a chart of alternatives and their advantages and disadvantages. READ MORE

The California High School Exit Exam Gets Real (February 2006) The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) holds students, rather than schools accountable for performance. Debate continues over whether the exit exam requirement is fair for all students. This report maps out the history and status of the exam and addresses key issues surrounding it. READ MORE     qty: Buy to download now (select Qty. 1), $5.00     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $5.00

How Hard is the Exit Exam? (February 2006) The California High School Exit Exam is a pass/fail test consisting of two parts—English language arts and math. These sample questions offer clues about the exam's difficulty. READ MORE

How California Ranks: A National Perspective (November 2005) Is California holding its own in K-12 education compared with other states? This eight-page annual rankings report includes numerous charts and graphs that detail the state’s standing nationally. READ MORE     qty: Buy to download now (select Qty. 1), $5.00     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $5.00

Guide: The State's Official Measures of School Performance (June 2005) This four-page guide describes the measures state officials use to evaluate schools and school districts. Download it for free, or purchase a copy to receive it in the mail. Also available in Spanish. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $3.00

Q&A: California's Student Testing Program: STAR (August 2003) This two-page Q&A explains the STAR program and discusses its impact on schools and students. Also available in Spanish. Free download. READ MORE

Q&A: The California High School Exit Exam (August 2003) This Q&A explains the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) and explores the state's decision to postpone the requirement to pass the exam. Also available in Spanish. Free download. READ MORE

Video - California's Commitment: Raising Academic Standards for All Students (May 2003) This 15-minute EdSource video introduces the basics of standards-based reform and accountability systems in a concise and engaging way. Also available in Spanish. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $16.00

Update: California's Education Reforms (October 2002) This 16-page report summarizes California's standards-based reform efforts to-date and looks at what's in store, including possible impacts of the federal No Child Left Behind Act and the proposed California Master Plan. Free download. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $3.00

California's Student Testing System: Hard Choices and New Directions (June 2001) This 12-page report examines California's high-stakes testing as presented at the EdSource Forum in 2001. It includes an analysis of high-stakes testing by researchers, plus a debate on its pros and cons. To download free now, READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $5.00

Aligning California's Education Reforms: Progress Made and the Work That Remains (January 2001) This 16-page report examines the extent to which California has successfully aligned its standards, curriculum framework and materials, teacher preparation and professional development practices, and student assessment and accountability systems. Free download. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $3.00

High Schools in the Hot Seat: An Overview of Current Challenges (June 1999) This 20-page report offers an extensive examination of the challenges currently facing high schools in California. Free download. READ MORE