Examines how mandated and voluntary course-specific math tests that give quick, detailed feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of individual students and entire classes affect student achievement. Outlines district- and state-level policy implications.
- Successful Strategy: Mandatory MDTP testing boosted scores on the California Standards Test enough to move students up several percentile points.
- Successful Strategy: When students were given an MDTP test two years in a row, the benefits that accrued the year following the first test strengthened in the second year.
- Observation: When students were given an MDTP test in one year but not the next, the benefits of MDTP testing decayed over time.
- Observation: In contrast with district-mandated testing, the voluntary use of MDTP tests by teachers had no detectable relation with students' gain in math achievement during the year.