Mathematics

Measured Progress Adds Lexile and Quantile Measures to its PTS3 Online Assessment

  2009 JUL 7 - (VerticalNews.com) -- Students who take the Progress Toward Standards Online Assessment(TM) (PTS3) will now receive Lexile(R) and Quantile(R) measures in addition to their standard reading and mathematics scores. Developed by MetaMetrics(R), Inc., the measures enable educators to connect students with instructional materials and activities that best support their reading and mathematics development. They also allow educators to monitor which students are on track to meet state-defined achievement standards. The addition of Lexile and Quantile measures to PTS3 comes at no extra cost to current and new users.

  PTS3 is a rigorous online benchmark assessment designed to test reading and mathematics mastery in students in grades three through eight and high school. Delivered on a browser-based platform, PTS3 includes three reading and mathematics forms per grade and is aligned to standards in more than 20 states. Districts and schools can use PTS3 to measure where their students are on the learning continuum at a given time and to collect data from reports to tailor instruction at the individual, class, school, and district levels.

  "We constantly look for new ways to improve our products to provide as much information as possible to help educators better differentiate classroom instruction and provide students with targeted enrichment materials that really can make a difference," said Stuart Kahl, Measured Progress co-founder and CEO. "The addition of Lexile and Quantile measures to PTS3 reflects our belief that assessment is only a means to an end; teachers need actionable information, so they know how to approach instruction once they receive students' scores."

  Recognized as the most widely adopted reading measure, schools nationwide use Lexile information in various ways. Each year, more than 28 million Lexile measures are reported from state and national assessments, classroom assessments, and reading programs, representing about half of U.S. students.

  What makes The Lexile Framework(R) for Reading unique, and has led to its widespread adoption, is that it measures both reading ability and text difficulty on the same developmental Lexile scale. When used together, Lexile reader and Lexile text measures enable educators, parents, and students to find books and other materials that will provide an appropriate level of challenge, while still maintaining student interest and learning. More than 115,000 books, 80 million articles and 60,000 Web sites have Lexile measures, and these numbers continue to grow.

  The Quantile Framework(R) for Mathematics provides a common, developmental scale for measuring student mathematics achievement, the difficulty of mathematical skills and concepts, and mathematics teaching materials. By placing the curriculum, teaching materials, and students on the same scale, Quantile measures enable educators to identify which mathematical skills and concepts a student is ready to learn. These measures also pinpoint areas where students require additional instruction and the resources that best meet their learning needs. Parents also can use Quantile measures to support students' mathematical development by connecting them with targeted mathematics activities at home.

  "The addition of Lexile and Quantile measures to the PTS3 online assessment enhances the value of the student data that educators will use to target classroom instruction," said MetaMetrics President Malbert Smith III, Ph.D. "Educators now can use the results from PTS3 to connect students with Lexile- and Quantile-leveled resources, such as the free 'Find a Book' and 'Math at Home' utilities, which can promote successful learning experiences and growth in these disciplines."

  For more information on PTS3, visit www.measuredprogress.org.

  Measured Progress is a Dover, New Hampshire-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to student learning and improving instruction in the standards-based classroom. For 25 years, Measured Progress has worked with more than half of the states across the nation in programs affecting millions of students. The organization develops state- and district-level assessments, and is the nation's leading provider of alternate assessment for students with disabilities. In addition, Measured Progress offers district- and school-based assessment products and professional development programs to help educators use assessment and assessment data to accurately measure student achievement and improve instruction.

  MetaMetrics, Inc., a privately held educational measurement company, develops scientifically-based measures of student achievement that link assessment with instruction, foster better educational practices, and improve learning by matching students with materials that meet and challenge their abilities. The company's team of psychometricians developed the widely adopted Lexile Framework for Reading; El Sistema Lexile para Leer, the Spanish-language version of the Lexile Framework; The Quantile Framework for Mathematics; and The Lexile Framework for Writing. In addition to licensing Lexile and Quantile measures to state departments of education, testing and instructional companies, and publishers, MetaMetrics delivers professional development, resource measurement, and customized consulting services. For more information, visit www.MetaMetrics.com.

  Keywords: Measured Progress, Mathematics.

  This article was prepared by VerticalNews Mathematics editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, VerticalNews Mathematics via VerticalNews.com.