MetaMetrics^® works with both state departments of education and test publishers to conduct a “linking study” that enables students’ math scores to also be reported as a Quantile^® measure. The Quantile^® Framework is instrument-independent, meaning all mathematics tests and instructional programs have the ability to report students’ scores as Quantile measures. Schools, districts, and states are not limited to a single supplier.

In response to No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and state-defined accountability models, state departments of education are required to assess annually students' proficiencies in mathematics. Most education departments employ customized tests to report student progress in the NCLB grades, typically grades 3-8 and one or more years of high school. MetaMetrics partners with departments of education to conduct a study that links (or equates) the underlying mathematics scale of their state tests with the Quantile scale. These "linking studies" enable students' mathematical scores to also be reported as Quantile measures.

The Linking Study

MetaMetrics conducts an analysis of the state mathematics test in order to construct a "theoretically parallel" (t-parallel) linking test for each grade included in the study. MetaMetrics examines both the difficulty and the content of the items on the state mathematics test when constructing the linking test. For tests without a vertical scale, every grade is included in the study.

For tests with a vertical scale, every other grade is sampled. In both cases, about 2,000 students per grade sampled are required for the linking study. Students are recruited by the state and/or districts. A true random sample is not necessary, although a range of abilities is recommended. Students included in the sample complete the t-parallel linking test within a few weeks of taking the state assessment. Typically, the linking test takes no more time to complete than the state assessment, although it is not a timed test.Upon completion of the linking study, MetaMetrics provides the state department of education with a technical report that details the study procedures and results. The report, which is the property of the education department, includes the conversion tables to translate each scale score from the state test at each grade level into a corresponding Quantile measure. Upon review and approval of the technical report, the education department can begin reporting Quantile measures from its assessment.

A Quantile linking study does not need to be completed every year, even if the items on the state test change from year to year. So long as the underlying scale used to report the state assessment results remains the same, a new linking study is not required. And because major standardized tests have been linked with the Quantile scale, education departments can continue to report Quantile measures even if they contract with a different test publisher for a norm-referenced assessment. State Department of Education Responsibilities Education departments are responsible for the following aspects of the linking study:

• Providing MetaMetrics with the items, administration manuals and psychometric information (technical manual with item difficulties) for the tests being linked with the Quantile Frameworks.
• Identifying and recruiting the student sample.
• Providing MetaMetrics with a student information file.
The file should include demographic and school information for each student being tested.
• Providing MetaMetrics with an electronic data file from the test administration that includes item-level data for the assessment.
• Consulting with MetaMetrics to develop customized interpretive materials, such as a Quantile map and Quantile-related content for the state department of education Web site.

Benefits of the Quantile Framework

The Quantile Framework provides a Quantile measure to describe a student’s mathematical achievement and the difficulty of specific mathematical skills and concepts.

• Quantile measures enable instructional products to “speak the same language” as the state curricular framework and se tate assessment.
• The Quantile Scale is developmental in nature, enabling products to demonstrate growth within a school year and forecast success.
• Quantile measures anchor instruction to state standards, allowing any national product to become state specific.
• QTaxon measures help publishers and product companies make decisions regarding the pacing of their product, alignments, difficulty level, and aid in providing a basis for interventions, enrichment strategies, and support.
• Quantile measures provide educators with constant metrics for forecasting student performance on year-end tests, based on day-to-day work in the classroom.

Please contact us at webinfo@Quantiles.com or 1-888-539-4537 with questions.

Click here to learn how Lexile^® measures support the Common Core Standards’ goal of preparing students for the text demands of college and careers.