Taking a common sense approach to the complex set of assessment challenges teachers face today, respected author Mark Conley maps a clear route to balance in the use of large-scale assessment to serve its intended purposes and the use of classroom assessment to meet the information needs of its intended users.

Sure to get students engaged and thinking critically about assessment in standards-based schools, Conley challenges students to address a critical assessment issue: assessment, evaluation and grading practices born and bred to produce dependable rankings-that is, to help only a few students succeed-must now be transformed into practices that permit all students to succeed. Some of the topics featured in the text (e.g. No Child Left Behind, national and state standards and instruction in relation to assessment) have been carefully selected for their currency, importance and students' needs.