Dear colleagues:

I'm writing to share some exciting developments with you. I want to let you know that the Gallaudet Research Institute (GRI) is "going for it." Specifically, we intend to proceed with a major national project designed to adapt the forthcoming tenth edition of the Stanford Achievement Test for use with deaf students. At the heart of this project are two efforts. First is the development of a set of "screening" materials that will permit deaf students to be tested with appropriately difficult tests. The second effort is a national norming of this tenth edition using a large sample of deaf children in programs like yours across the United States. The norming will permit the comparison of deaf students' performance not only with hearing students' but, more importantly, with that of their deaf peers. I'm pleased to tell you that GRI is now working collaboratively with Harcourt Educational Measurement (HEM), the test publisher. Harcourt has tentatively agreed to provide many of the materials and services that will make this norming project possible. The collaborative project is receiving corporate backing in a way that has never happened before and, for that, we are very much in HEM's debt. Most of the personnel costs will be borne by Gallaudet through the GRI. I thank our Gallaudet administration for its encouragement and support. Also, I am thrilled to tell you that some important funding for the project is being made available from a bequest made to the GRI in the name of Adam Politzer (1835 - 1920).

We are undertaking this project in direct response to the many of you across the country who have written or called to encourage us. We thank you for your advice and guidance. Please understand that we are not entering into this project lightly. We've only reached this point after first satisfying ourselves that using the new Stanford is the best available choice. Indeed, we're satisfied that the new edition of the Stanford is an outstanding instrument that offers many advantages not to be found in other tests.

NOW, A REQUEST:

I have one important request to make of all of you, whether or not your school will end up using the new Stanford test materials. The sample of schools whose students will be tested in the norming study will be drawn from programs participating in the GRI's Annual Survey of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Youth. If the project is fully to represent deaf and hard of hearing students such as are served in your program, it's imperative that all programs participate in this year's Annual Survey. You should have these materials now. If not or if you need new forms, please contact Annual Survey coordinator Sue Hotto (sue.hotto@gallaudet.edu). Although we are processing the data now, we will gladly receive our schools' forms during the summer. Please remember that you do not need to provide student names when you partipate; a school-designated code is more than appropriate.

Thanks in advance for your collaboration and support on both the Annual Survey and the new Stanford project. Remember that whether or not your school is selected to participate in the norming study, your participation in the Annual Survey provides the bedrock for the entire effort.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Also, remember that we at GRI feel that we benefit greatly from your guidance and from knowing your points of view, so please continue to stay in contact.

Feel free to forward my email to your colleagues. Also, be advised that the new GRI Newsletter should soon be reaching you--if it hasn't already. Let us know if you need more copies (robert.c.johnson@gallaudet.edu). The Newsletter is an attempt to facilitate discussion about the impact of high stakes testing on deaf students. You will be getting more information from us about this topic in the coming months.

P.S. Here's a general, very tentative timetable for the next year or so if it's of interest: