Program Update

Happy New Year from the Praxis team!

As the New Year rolls out, the Praxis program will continue to enhance your teacher licensure program with

• New Registration System
• Continued rollout of tests on computer
• Regenerated Tests for 2012–13

New Registration System

Following the introduction of the new Praxis/SLS registration system on November 7, 2011, over 8,900 candidates registered within the first week and 23,692 candidates registered by the end of November. A grand total of 42,376 candidates registered in November and December. Also since the registration launch, 25,783 tests were successfully delivered on computer.

The new registration system provides a single point for candidates to access to register for both paper- and computer-delivered tests, and allows candidates to reschedule and/or cancel a test from one convenient location. The candidate also can search for a test by zip code or by state of certification, and view real-time seat availability for both paper- and computer-delivered test appointments.

Continued rollout of tests on computer

The Praxis program continues to provide candidates with computer-delivered testing, and by the fall of 2012, more than 60 test titles will be available on computer. Candidates will be able to take most of these tests either by computer or paper in either the seven months of computer testing windows or in the five paper administrations. By the end of the 2012–13 testing year, more than 90 titles will be offered on computer, expanding the opportunities students have to take these assessments.

See below the list of tests rolling out on computer through the remainder of the 2011–12 and 2012–13 testing years.

Computer-Delivered Test Rollout Schedule

Regenerated Tests launching in 2012–13

The new year begins with the continuation of National Advisory Committee meetings (NAC), regeneration of test titles and Multistate Standard Setting Studies (MSSS) to keep the test content fresh, relevant and current with changing requirements for prospective teachers.

Since the start of the 2011–12 testing year, the Praxis program has delivered 15 newly regenerated tests and 2012 National Advisory Committee (NAC) meetings are underway. Six NAC meetings have been scheduled to begin regeneration work, and four NAC 2 meetings have been scheduled where the specifications for regenerated tests will be defined. Below are the list of tests that will be regenerated in the 2012–13 testing year.

• Cooperative Education (0811)
• Driver Education (0867)
• Economics (0911)
• Environmental Education (0831)
• Government/Political Science (0931)
• Latin (0601)
• Music: Content and Instruction (0114)
• Professional School Counselor (0421)
• Reading Specialist (5301)
• School Superintendent Assessment (6021)
• Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students (0272)
• Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood (0691)
• Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (0282)
• Special Education: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities (0383)
• Theatre (0641)
• World and U.S. History: Content Knowledge (5941)

In addition to the NAC meetings, the Praxis program conducted 13 Multistate Standard Setting Studies (MSSS) in 2011, and will continue with additional MSSS's in 2012. To find the dates of the NAC meetings, MSSS and test administrations, please see the Schedule at a Glance.

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Spring Praxis Webinar Schedule

The Praxis program has published the 2012 Spring Praxis I® and Praxis II® webinar schedule. These free webinars deliver in-depth information about the tests and offer teacher candidates the opportunity to interact and ask questions. Webinar attendees are also presented with a plan to help guide their preparation for the Praxis tests.

Praxis I Webinar Dates

• Tuesday, January 24 at 1 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, March 21 at 1 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, May 16 at 1 p.m. ET

Praxis II Webinar Dates

• Monday, February 13 at 1 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, April 3 at 1 p.m. ET
• Monday, June 11 at 1 p.m. ET

Registration opens approximately one week in advance of the webinar date. To register, visit www.ets.org/praxis/webinars.

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Online Training and Assessment System for Classroom Observers

In November 2011, Teachscape, in partnership with ETS and Charlotte Danielson, launched the Framework for Teaching Proficiency System, a complete online solution for observer training and assessment. The System was born out of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) project, which is dedicated to improving the quality of information about teacher effectiveness available to education professionals. It enables districts and states to promote high-quality observations by implementing rigorous training for all observers and developing the skills and expertise of observers so they can make better judgments of teaching practice.

The Framework for Teaching Proficiency System includes three video-rich components integrated into a single system:

1. Observer Training: 11 online professional development modules designed for flexible use as self-guided learning or as part of facilitated learning groups.
2. Scoring Practice: prepares observers for real-world classroom observations by allowing them to practice their observation skills using master-scored authentic classroom videos.
3. Proficiency Test: a rigorous next-generation assessment that uses innovative video-based items to assess the ability of observers to accurately evaluate teaching practice using Danielson's Framework for Teaching (2011 Revised Edition).

At the core of the system are over 100 master-scored authentic classroom videos from all grade levels and core subjects, showing teaching practices aligned with the Framework for Teaching (2011 Revised Edition) at all performance levels from level 1 (Unsatisfactory) to level 4 (Distinguished). Each master scorer involved in developing the system has over 25 years of education experience as well as prior experience scoring assessments of teaching practice, such as the Praxis III® test. The pool of master scorers included educators from eight states across the country to ensure geographic diversity.

The Framework for Teaching Proficiency System was recently a finalist in the 2011 EdTech Digest Awards Cool Tool category. Within 30 days of its launch, the system was already being used in over 135 school districts in more than six states. For more information, visit the Teachscape website or contact your Client Relations Director.

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The Praxis Client Conference

This year's Praxis Client Conference will be held April 30–May 3, 2012 at the Chauncey Conference Center located on the ETS campus in Princeton, NJ. We look forward to sharing how we continue to expand services to meet your state's specific needs while making innovative advancements in test design. We can't wait to show you our plans for the next generation of The Praxis Series assessments, their alignment with Common Core Standards and what our progress on professional licensure means for teaching quality. You will also have the opportunity to have small group conversations with ETS officers where you can discuss your state's issues and concerns. Don't miss this opportunity to join thought leaders from across the country as we move forward in this very exciting yet challenging time for education. Materials will be distributed in advance so you may prepare questions and comments.

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ETS Publications

In the 17th edition of the R&D Connections Series, the multistate standard-setting approach is discussed, and the design features and benefits that distinguish the multistate standard-setting approach from the more traditional state-by-state approach for setting standards on Praxis tests are outlined.

Read the most recent edition of ETS's Innovations magazine with the theme Narrowing Gaps Around the World. Innovations provides information on educational assessment for educators, school leaders, researchers and policymakers around the world.

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