The conceptual history of the Maryland High School Assessment Program dates back to 1989, when the Governor’s Commission of School Performance reported on the issues of high-quality assessment. Since that time, the High School Assessment Program has embraced the efforts of thousands of Maryland educators and coalitions, Maryland students, and diverse national assessment vendors in its development and scoring. Chapter 1 of this technical report includes comprehensive documentation of these efforts, especially from the early stages of the program’s development.

1.1 A Report of the High School Assessment Task Force to the Maryland State Board of Education

1. Purpose of the High School Assessment
2. History of the High School Assessment Deliberations
3. Membership of High School Assessment Groups
4. Concept of Partnership
5. Inputs Received
6. Context of Task Force Deliberations
7. Structure of Recommendations
8. Context of Recommendations
9. Recommendations Related to Core Learning Goals
10. Recommendations Related to the Assessment
11. Recommendations Related to Staff Development
12. Recommendations Related to Cost
13. Recommendations Related to Next Steps

1. High School Assessment Membership Lists
2. A Survey of Instruments, Practices, and Services Available from Other States, Vendors, and Assessment Coalitions
3. Summary of High School Assessment Core Learning Goals Feedback Sheets
4. English Core Learning Goals
5. Mathematics Core Learning Goals
6. Science Core Learning Goals
7. Social Studies Core Learning Goals
8. Skills for Success Core Learning Goals
9. Task Force Retreat Agenda – April 11, 1995
10. Chronology of High School Assessment Activities
11. Assessment Models Submitted for Consideration
12. Concept Paper: One Sample of a Modular Approach to Assessment Design
13. Psychometric Issues Related to Locally Operated Item/Task Bank
14. Cost Information

1.2 High School Assessment Design: A Report to the Maryland State Board Education

The Report: Strategic Issues in the Design of the High School Assessment Program

1. Standards and the Uses of the HSA
2. The Design Options
3. Implications of End-of-Course Assessments
4. Feasibility of Accommodating Special Circumstances
5. Flexibility in Accommodating Variations Among Local Districts
6. Supporting Students Who do not Demonstrate Competence

• Standards and the Uses of the HSA
• An Evaluation of Design Options
• Implications of End-of-Course Assessments
• Feasibility of Accommodating Special Circumstances
• Flexibility in Accommodating Variations Among Local Districts
• Supporting Students Who do not Demonstrate Competence
• Other Unresolved Issues

Appendix B: Public Engagement 

• The Plan for Public Engagement and the Presentations and Methods Used
• The Concerns and Comments of the Several Constituency Groups

Appendix C: Public Engagement Materials

1.3 Designing End-of-Course High School Assessments

This report was also prepared by member of The College Board and of Educational Testing Services and presented to the Maryland BOE in August 1997. Included in the report are recommendations regarding Maryland’s high school assessment program.

Volume I of this document includes 1) Test and Item Specifications, 2) Technical Specifications, and 3) Assessment Program Specifications. Appendices A and B of this document include additional examples of test and item specifications.

Volume II of this document includes five appendices as outlined below:

Appendix C: Working assumptions about the HSA tests
                   Test specifications for all content areas

Appendix D: Illustrative test questions for all content areas

Appendix E: Issues and recommendations from the Program Specification Committee
                   Issues and recommendations from the Test Administration                                  Specifications Committee
                   Rosters of the specifications committees

Appendix F: Topics for a Maryland booklet on test security
                   Flowchart detailing one way of doing cheating analyses
                   Effects of scorer reliability: Examples from College Board testing programs
                   Why and How Educational Testing Service Questions Test Scores
                   ETS Sensitivity Review Guidelines
                   ETS Standards for Quality and Fairness
                   Code of Fair Testing Practices in Education

Appendix G: Additional issues concerning the use of calculators on HSA

1.4 Chronology of the Maryland High School Assessment  

This document lists the major decisions and activities concerning the HSA Program from August 1989 through May 2002. It includes additions beyond those of Attachment 10 in Document 1.1 of this technical report

1.5 Planning, Transition, and Implementation Summary

This document summarizes state efforts in Testing and Standards; State Assistance Through Curriculum, Instruction, Professional Development, and Technical Assistance; and Outreach. It is not meant to be an exhaustive history of all efforts; rather, it is a selection of significant activities beginning with related activities in 1993 and continuing to projected activities through 2009.

1.6 Press Release: State Board Launches Regulatory Process That Could Tie the High School Assessment to Graduation 

The Maryland Board of Education issued this press release on December 4, 2003. 

1.7 Memo from Nancy S. Grasmick to Parents and Community Groups

This memo, dated February 25, 2004, answers questions on the status of Maryland’s proposal to link the High School Assessment to the Maryland High School Diploma.