ETS's Criterion Online Writing Evaluation Tool Adopted by Indiana Department of Education; Criterion to Be Offered in Every 9th-Grade Classroom Across the State

Business Wire,  April 27, 2004  

Tags: criterion, tool, U.S. Department of Education

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Business Editors/Education Writers

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 2004

ETS (Educational Testing Service) announced today that the Indiana Department of Education will provide all ninth-grade classes with access to its Criterion online writing evaluation tool, which uses automated scoring technologies to evaluate writing samples. Criterion(SM) will be available for both parochial and private schools.

Students in Indiana will now have unlimited opportunities to submit essays on topics assigned by their teachers and receive instant diagnostic feedback that analyzes elements of grammar, usage, mechanics, style, and organization and development. Students can use the diagnostic feedback when creating future essays ultimately strengthening their writing skills. By using Criterion, teachers will be able to spend more time helping individual students build on their writing strengths and work on their weaknesses, and less time grading papers.

"Learning to be skillful writers is absolutely critical for students" says John Oswald, ETS Senior Vice President of Elementary & Secondary Education. "We are thrilled to work with the state of Indiana to help it achieve their longstanding goal of improving writing skills and look forward showcasing student achievement using Criterion."

To use Criterion, students log on to a computer, pick up an assignment and write an essay based on the assigned topic. After completing the essay, they submit it for grading. Within seconds, Criterion calculates a grade based on state standards and provides the student with feedback, highlighted in the essay. In addition to the feedback, students can view their teacher's comments and recommendations.

Hundreds of middle schools and high schools across the country use Criterion in their classrooms. Some 30 colleges and universities also use the program both to improve writing and to help prepare students for testing. For more information about Criterion, visit http://www.ets.org/criterion/index.html.

ABOUT ETS:

With estimated consolidated revenues of $800 million for FY2003, ETS is the world's largest private educational testing and measurement organization and is a leading provider in education research. The company is dedicated to serving the needs of individuals, educational institutions, and government bodies in nearly 200 countries. ETS develops and administers more than 12 million tests worldwide and is a leading supplier of large-scale assessments to states and major school districts.

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