The National Writing Project

August 21, 2008 – Kentucky professors, key educators and teachers will partner with researchers from the University at Albany on the next phase of The National Study of Writing Instruction, a multi-state research project designed to identify the ways in which writing is presently being used and taught in the major academic subjects (English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies) in the middle and high schools grades. Its goal is to create the knowledge base from which to improve writing instruction in ways that better prepare high school graduates to meet the writing demands of the workplace and college.

This year, researchers from the National Study of Writing Instruction are working collaboratively with university-based researchers and key educators in California, Kentucky, Michigan, New York and Texas who will, in turn, gather data about writing instruction in a subset of schools identified as effective in the teaching of writing. The five states were chosen to reflect a range of approaches to statewide assessment and accountability of student writing across the subjects. The research is funded by the Chicago-based Spencer Foundation as well as the National Writing Project.

Kentucky, in particular, has included writing portfolios as a component of its assessment since 1992. Well-known writing researcher and professor, George Hillocks, has noted that “[t]he Kentucky portfolio assessment of writing is an exemplary assessment by many criteria [which] promote authentic writing, rather than the formulaic.” While the portfolio and on-demand assessments for writing are not unique to Kentucky, Kentucky is the only state to sustain the statewide assessment of writing portfolios over such a long period of time, 1992-present providing valuable data to support the state in its efforts.

In his research, Hillocks “believe[s] that the difference in Kentucky lies in the nature of the assessment, the training afforded the teachers, and the guidelines set by the state. Kentucky has more open criteria for good writing, more teacher education through the eight Writing Project sites, strong guides to the teaching of writing in its various state and local handbooks, and an assessment that permits development of writing in a serious way” (2002). Because these assessments promote such valuable instruction, several Kentucky schools will be included in the National Study of Writing Instruction.

John Hagaman of Western Kentucky University, Sally Martin of Eastern Kentucky University, and Lee Ann Hager, Writing Consultant with the Kentucky Department of Education will be leading the Kentucky team...

SOURCE: NWP press release