The idea of a progress variable is not radically new—it has grown out of
the traditional approach to test content—most tests have a “blueprint” or plan
that assigns items to particular categories, and hence, justifies why certain items
are there, and others aren’t. The concept of a progress variable goes beyond
this by looking more deeply into why we use certain assessments when we do
(i.e., by linking them to growth through the curriculum), and by calibrating the
assessments with empirical information.
Although the ideas inherent in components of the BEAR Assessment System
are not unique, the combination of these particular ideas and techniques into a
usable system does represent a new step in assessment development. The implications
for this effort for other large-scale tests, for curricula, and for assessment
reform on a broader level, need to be explored and tested through other related
efforts. We hope our efforts and experiences will encourage increased discussion
and experimentation of the use of state of the art assessment procedures across
a broad range of contexts from classroom practice to large-scale assessments.