Publications
Research recognizes the power of assessment to amplify learning and skill acquisition. Assessing students is a fundamental ingredient of effective teaching. It is the tool that enables teachers to measure the extent to which a student or group of students have mastered the material taught in a lesson or a class or during the school year, and it gives instructors the necessary information to modify instruction when progress falters. Assessment affects decisions about grades, placement, advancement, instructional strategies, curriculum, special education placement, and funding. It works to improve instruction in the following ways: (1) as a diagnostic tool, (2) by providing feedback on progress measured against benchmarks, (3) as a motivating factor, and (4) as an accountability instrument for improving systems.
States, J., Detrich, R. & Keyworth, R. (2017). Overview of Education Assessment. Oakland, CA: The Wing Institute. http://www.winginstitute.org/student-formative-assessment.
Data Mining
This Wing Institute literature review analyzed 25 studies on the relationship between school size and student performance.
States, J. (2009). Does School Size Affect Student Performance? Retrieved from does-school-size-affect.
This analysis examines long term math score trends in the United States.
Keyworth, R. (2010). Have NAEP math scores improved over the past 40 years of school reform? Retrieved from have-naep-reading-scores925.
This review examines 40 years of data for 4th, 8th, 12th grade math proficiency scores in the United States.
Keyworth, R. (2011). Have NAEP math scores improved over the past 40 years of school reform? Retrieved from have-naep-math-scores925.
This review examines 40 years of data for 4th, 8th, 12th grade reading proficiency scores in the United States.
Keyworth, R. (2011). Have NAEP reading scores improved over the past 40 years of school reform? Retrieved from have-naep-reading-scores924.
This review examines student reading performance since 1971 to look for evidence of school reform's impact.
Keyworth, R. (2015). Have reading scores improved over 40-plus years of school reform? Retrieved from have-reading-scores-improved865.
This analysis examines long term reading score trends in the United States.
Keyworth, R. (2010). Have reading scores improved over 40-plus years of school reform? Retrieved from have-reading-scores-improved926.
This review looks at trends in reading performance for a twenty year period.
States, J. (2010). How have American students been performing in reading over the past 20 years? Retrieved from how-have-american-students936.
This review looks at trends in mathematics performance for a twenty year period.
States, J. (2010). How have American students been performing in reading over the past 20 years? Retrieved from how-have-american-students937.
This review examines at 17 years of data on 4th grade reading proficiency in the United States.
Keyworth, R. (2011). What percent of 4th grade students are reading below proficiency level? Retrieved from what-percent-of-4th.
This review examines 17 years of data on 8th grade reading proficiency in the United States.
Keyworth, R. (2011). What percent of 8th grade students are reading below proficiency level? Retrieved from what-percent-of-8th.
Presentations
This paper examines the history, impact, and future of school reform in the context of empirical data, scientific research, and policy initiatives.
Keyworth, R. (2010). Evidence-based Education Policy: An Oxymoron [Powerpoint Slides]. Retrieved from 2010-ucberkeley-guest-presentation-randy-keyworth.