A Guide to Understanding and Developing Performance-Level Descriptors精品.pdfVIP

A Guide to Understanding and Developing Performance-Level Descriptors Marianne Perie, National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment research shows that cut scores appear very lenient in some states and strin- There has been much discussion recently about why the gent in others, particularly when com- percentage of students scoring Proficient or above varies as pared to the cut scores on the National much as it does on state assessments across the country. Assessment of Educational Progress However, most of these discussions center on the leniency or (Braun Qian, 2007; McLaughlin, 2006; McLaughlin Bandeira de Mello, rigor of the cut score. Yet, the cut score is developed in a 2005). However, any analysis of cut standard-setting process that depends heavily on the definition scores without consideration of the for each level of performance. Good performance-level PLDs used in determining the cut descriptors (PLDs) can be the foundation of an assessment scores provides an incomplete picture. program, driving everything from item development to cut Differences in the percentages of stu- scores to reporting. PLDs should be written using a multistep dents scoring at or above proficient are process. First, policymakers determine the number and names of