Interpreting Standardized Test Scores: Strategies for Data-Driven Instructional Decision Making

"Craig A. Mertler′s approach would reduce your stress level as his book walks the reader through the various assessments often encountered in schools and helps the reader make better use of the information embedded in accountability reports. The book is well-organized and provides clear and thorough descriptions of the myriad terms the reader will encounter with assessments."
―Lane B. Mills, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR

"This text offers a clear, insightful study of how to interpret, use, and reflect on test data in ways that help to develop better schools, highly qualified teachers, and well prepared students."

―Linda Karges-Bone, Charleston Southern University

As standardized testing continues to grow in importance in our society, this text will become a critical part of measurement curriculum and instruction."

―Gordon Brooks, Ohio University

Interpreting Standardized Test Scores: Strategies for Data-Driven Instructional Decision Making is designed to help K-12 teachers and administrators understand the nature of standardized tests and, in particular, the scores that result from them. This useful manual helps teachers develop the skills necessary to incorporate these test scores into various types of instructional decision making―a process known as "data-driven decision making"―necessitated by the needs of their students.

Key Features

• Helps readers understand, interpret, and use standardized test scores to improve classroom instruction: Several specific examples are given for interpreting test scores and developing a plan to revise instruction based on those results.
• Offers activities for application and reflection: Follow-up activities and discussion points are provided for experienced and preservice teachers across K-12 grade levels.
• Presents successful case studies: The author includes interviews with classroom teachers, building administrators, and district-level administrators who have successfully engaged in a process of incorporating test scores into decision making.

Intended Audience

This is an excellent supplementary text for any course that incorporates standardized testing as a topic, including but not limited to courses in Classroom Assessment, Educational Psychology, Content Methods, Reading, Special Education, Curriculum, Literacy, Administration, The Principalship, and The Superintendency.

Craig A. Mertler is currently a Professor of Action Research and Quantitative Methods at Barry University in Miami, Florida. He began his career as a high school biology teacher. He has been an educator for 39 years―29 of those in higher education at Bowling Green State University, the University of West Georgia, Lynn University, Arizona State University, and Barry University, and 12 years as an administrator (department chair, doctoral program director, and education dean). Over his career, he has taught courses focused on the application of action research to promote educator empowerment, school improvement, and job-embedded professional development, as well as classroom assessment, research methods, and statistical analyses. 

He has served as the research methodology expert and/or chair on more than 140 doctoral dissertations and master’s theses. He is the author of 30 books, 9 invited book chapters, and 25 refereed journal articles. He has also presented more than 40 research papers at professional meetings around the country, as well as internationally.

He conducts workshops for in-service educational professionals (at all levels) on classroom-based action research and on the topics of classroom assessment and assessment literacy, as well as data-driven educational decision making. His primary research and consulting interests include classroom-based action research, data-driven educational decision making, professional learning communities, and classroom teachers’ assessment literacy. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling with his family to the beach and sometimes writing a little fiction. Dr. Mertler can be reached at craig.mertler@gmail.com for consulting, professional development, and speaking engagements. Additionally, you can visit his website at www.craigmertler.com.