In this digital ITEMS module, Dr. Katherine Reynolds and Dr. Sebastian Moncaleano discuss content alignment, its role in standards-based educational assessment, and popular methods for conducting alignment studies. The module begins with an overview of content alignment and its relationship to validity before discussing common alignment study methods. Each method’s conceptualization of alignment is discussed, along with more practical issues such as the materials and participants required and steps for carrying out each method. The final component of this module includes a deeper exploration of the Webb method, one of the most popular content alignment study approaches. This includes a detailed and practical discussion of the steps followed in a Webb alignment study, as well as how to interpret the various alignment indices provided in the Webb framework.

Key words: Achieve methodology, content alignment, content area standards, content validity,  standards-based assessment, Surveys of Enacted Curriculum, Webb methodology