The Basic Skills committee summarized the Senate positions on the importance and role of placement tests. Research was completed including seminal documents on assessment and placement testing nationwide such as Report of the Commission on the Use of Standardized Tests in Undergraduate Admission (National Association for College Admission Counseling; Sept 2008) and Challenges in Assessing Postsecondary Readiness (National Commission on Adult Literacy; Dec 2007).
Whereas, A common statewide assessment test for math and English for the purpose of placement would allow portability of scores from one institution to another, eliminating the need for students to take assessment tests at multiple institutions;
Whereas, A unique set of assessment scores would obviate the increasingly common practice of students' shopping around for a college where they achieve a better placement;
Whereas, A common assessment data set could be used for statewide research; and
Whereas, A common statewide assessment test for math and English would not usurp local use of the assessment results for placement decisions;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges research the feasibility, advantages, and disadvantages of implementing common statewide assessment tests for math, English, reading, and ESL for the purpose of placement and report back to the plenary body at the Spring 2005 Plenary Session.