Audrey Amrein-Beardsley’s Reading List on Value-Added Assessment

Audrey Amrein-Beardsley has updated her reading lists on value-added assessment. Most of the studies cited show that it is inaccurate, unstable, and unreliable. The error rate is high. Students are not randomly assigned to teachers. Ratings fluctuate from year-to-year. About 70% of teachers do not teach tested courses. Perhaps that is why other nations do not judge teachers by the rise or fall of the test scores of their students. Unfortunately in this country, at this time, we have a cult worship of standardized testing, which is used to evaluate students, teachers, principals, and schools. People’s lives hang on the right answer. In a just world this practice would be recognized for what it is: Junk science.

Here are her top 15 studies. Open the link to find the top 25. Open the link to find links for all these readings. With Beardsley’s help, you too can be an expert.