Praxis™ Program Establishes Standing Committees for Test Development
The Praxis™ program is establishing standing committees for test development to provide greater diversity of input into the development of the Praxis tests and to draw on the subject-matter expertise of a greater number of practicing teachers. The committees will formalize existing relationships with external item writers and reviewers, and expand the pool of educators on whom we rely to maintain the quality of our tests.
These standing committees will help ETS forge an ongoing partnership with the teaching community, provide continuous feedback regarding tests and test specifications, and foster a sense of ownership among the committee members that will have a positive influence on test quality. Standing committees will also ensure the availability of external experts to review specific test questions flagged as a result of statistical analyses or inquiries from test takers.
The following guidelines will be followed in selecting committee members:
- Test Development committees should be made up of current, licensed K-12 teachers and teacher educators.
- The committees should reflect the regional and institutional diversity of schools in the user states as much as possible.
- Committees should be as balanced as possible in terms of gender and should reflect the ethnic diversity of the teaching community.
- The major specialties of a discipline should be represented by members of the committee.
- To ensure both continuity and gradual change in committee membership, the maximum service for each member will be three successive two-year terms. One or two members will be rotated after each two-year appointment term is completed. Newly appointed members will receive a one-year renewable appointment.
The work of the committees will vary by subject matter and the development schedule for individual test titles, but it will typically include item writing and reviewing, reviewing of new test forms, and consultation concerning specific test questions flagged for review. More specific information, including details of honoraria to be paid, will be sent with an invitation letter to nominees whose qualifications match the needs of the Praxis program.
If you wish to be considered for nomination, please send your contact information, the subject area and/or test title(s) for which you have relevant expertise, and a brief description of your qualifications, including educational background and current position, to: PRAXISTDCommittee@ets.org.