The most significant recent changes in educational assessment practices in the U.S. were triggered by the 1983 Nation at Risk document, which called for higher standards in education. Following that publication, we saw a shift in emphasis from basic skills and minimum competency testing to standards-based assessments. Most of the new instruments were alternative assessments or authentic assessments. Currently, educators are experimenting with standards-based assessment programs at the state, national, and international levels.

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