Developing a valid and reliable portfolio assessment in the primary grades: Building on practical experience

In response to assessment guidelines defined by the Improving America's Sch ools Act of 1994, a reading/language arts portfolio assessment was included in the Dallas Public Schools' Title I Local Education Agency Plan (Dallas Public Schools, 1995) as an optional student assessment for students in pre kindergarten to second grade. The objective of this study was to examine th e extent to which the 1995-96 portfolio assessment met appropriate technica l standards for its intended uses. After 3 years of development and gradual improvement, the portfolio assessment did not provide high quality informa tion about student achievement as hoped. The reliability of the scores was low, and the portfolio contents did not provide a valid sample of students' work. Implications for other districts are discussed related to technical quality, staff development, and cost.