Print WindowThe AERA, APA, and NCME Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (1999, 2014) define validity as "the degree to which evidence and theory support the interpretations of test scores entailed by proposed uses of tests. . . . The process of validation involves accumulating evidence to provide a sound scientific basis for the proposed score interpretations."
For the FTCE and the FELE examinations, the process of validation involves accumulating evidence based on test content. This evidence includes "logical or empirical analyses of the adequacy with which the test content represents the content domain and the relevance of the content domain to the proposed interpretation of the test scores. Evidence based on test content can also come from expert judgments" (AERA, APA, NCME, 1999, 2014).
The intended content domain measured by the FTCE and FELE examinations is that of entry-level skills. The content validity of the FTCE and FELE examinations is reinforced through the involvement of Florida educators, including teachers, district supervisors, teacher educators, and other education personnel throughout the test development process. These subject matter experts may (1) identify the competencies and skills to be the basis of the test; (2) be involved in the conducting of a statewide survey of those competencies and skills; (3) develop test item specifications; and/or (4) create and review test items and test forms.