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Spring 2010
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Test Regeneration Update

Praxis II® Launched Nine New Tests in 2010 – 11 Testing Year

Nine new tests will be administered for the first time during the 2010 – 11 testing year. A new World Language Series consisting of four tests, three Special Education tests, a new Teaching Reading test, and an updated Business Education test will be added to our Praxis® II test offerings as of fall 2010. The content for these new tests was defined by practicing teachers and college faculty, and confirmed in a national survey of job incumbents. In addition, each of the new assessments is aligned to national standards widely accepted by the professional teaching community. These tests will replace the current Praxis II assessments in these subject areas. States may refer questions they have about the transition to their Client Relations Director.

World Language (WL) Series

The new Praxis WL Series includes three language tests (Spanish, French and German) and a WL Pedagogy test suitable for assessing the pedagogical knowledge of language teachers regardless of the target language they teach. The new tests are aligned to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Standards. ETS worked closely with ACTFL during the research and development process, and ACTFL representatives had the opportunity to review the new assessments. The language tests measure the candidates' reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, as well as cultural knowledge. Each test is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes long and includes both multiple-choice and constructed-response questions. The WL Pedagogy test is comprised of 45 multiple-choice questions that cover Language Acquisition Theories and Instructional Practices, Integration of Standards into Curriculum and Instruction, and Assessment of Languages and Cultures, and two constructed-response questions that cover Instructional Practice.

Multi-state standard-setting studies were conducted in July, August and September, 2009, to provide states a recommended passing score based on input from currently practicing licensed teachers and faculty. State licensing agencies wishing to use these tests will set their own passing score for each test.

Business Education

This updated test concentrates on core knowledge and cognitive skills in the following eight categories: Accounting and Finance; Communication and Career Development; Economics; Entrepreneurship; Information Technology; Law and International Business; Marketing and Management; and Professional Business Education. The new assessment contains 120 multiple-choice questions. A multi-state standard-setting study was conducted in September 2009 to provide states interested in using the test with recommendations regarding a passing score for the test. State licensing agencies are currently establishing their passing scores for this test.

Teaching Reading

This new test focuses on the five essential components identified as important by the National Reading Panel and on the principles outlined by the International Reading Association standards. The test is comprised of 90 multiple-choice questions covering Emergent Literacy, Phonological Awareness, Alphabetic Principle/Phonics and Word Analysis, Comprehension and Fluency, and Vocabulary, and three constructed-response questions covering Instructional Processes. A multi-state standard-setting study was conducted in October 2009, and states are currently completing their adoption and score-setting deliberations.

Special Education Tests

Three new Special Education licensure assessments will be administered for the first time in 2010 – 11. These new assessments replace five current Special Education tests that were designed to be used in various combinations by the states. The newly designed tests will be more cost- and time-effective for candidates, who will now need to take only one rather than two separate assessments to demonstrate their Special Education knowledge and their ability to apply that knowledge to a teaching situation. These tests are NOT designed to cover subject matter content knowledge. The new Special Education assessments include:

Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications (0354) — a two-hour assessment containing 120 multiple-choice questions covering Development and Characteristics of Learners, Planning and the Learning Environment, Instruction, Assessment and Foundations and Professional Responsibilities.

Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild-to-moderate Applications (0543) and Special Education: Core Knowledge and Severe-to-profound Applications (0545) — are two-hour assessments designed to measure whether entry-level special education teachers working within the area specified in the test title have the knowledge believed necessary for competent professional practice. Each assessment is divided into two parts. Part A contains 90 multiple-choice questions covering Development and Characteristics of Learners, Planning and the Learning Environment, Instruction, Assessment and Foundations and Professional Responsibilities. Part B contains three constructed-response questions covering Instruction and Assessment, Learning Environment and Classroom Management and Collaboration. While the sections are not separately timed, suggested time limits of 90 minutes for Part A and 30 minutes for Part B are given to the candidates.

Reports from the multi-state standard-setting studies were distributed to states immediately upon their completion, with the last report sent on March 12, 2010. Each state may now determine its passing score for the test(s) it wishes to use.

New Multi-state Standard-setting Studies in 2010

A new round of multi-state standard-setting studies will begin in June, 2010. This next round of studies will be conducted for regenerated tests in:

Two newly developed assessments, the Chinese (Mandarin): World Language test and the Middle School: Multiple Subjects test, are also scheduled in this next round of studies.

The Praxis program conducts multi-state standard-setting studies when regeneration results in a new test that cannot be equated to the test forms in current use, and states must set passing scores for the new test. ETS provides state users the opportunity to participate in a multi-state standard-setting study, which has been designed by Dr. Richard Tannenbaum, Director of Educational and Credentialing Research Group. By assembling large cross-state panels comprised of practicing professionals and faculty who prepare them, the new multi-state approach increases the number of educators who provide input into the recommended cut scores while reducing the state's burden to recruit panelists. This process engages a larger number of professionals in the process of recommending a passing score appropriate for identifying the just-qualified beginning practitioner. Up to 50 educators are involved in each study, and the new study design allows for multiple rounds of panel judgments, feedback and discussion.

With the multi-state standard-setting study, states can move from existing to new tests more efficiently. States no longer need to wait their turn to schedule a state-specific study. However, each state retains its right and responsibility to set its own passing scores after it receives the multi-state standard-setting report.

Regeneration Work Beginning in 2010

Each year, a new group of tests is brought into the regeneration process. Tests typically go through regeneration every five years. The regeneration process aims to keep all Praxis assessments valid, reliable and up-to-date. This year, tests in the following subject tests will begin their regeneration process:

Typically, the regeneration process begins with the formation of a national advisory committee, or NAC, comprised of practicing professionals and preparation program faculty from user states. Praxis user states are encouraged to nominate individuals to serve on this committee by asking them to provide their background qualifications to ETS at the NAC Registration website: http://www.ets.org/praxiscomm.html.


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