Original estimates are based on previous assessment data and previous assessment scaling results, transformed to the reporting metric using the transformation identified during the analysis of the previous assessment data. Provisional estimates are based on previous assessment data and current assessment scaling results. Prior to transformation, provisional estimates are on the theta metric specified by the scaling program. The original and provisional estimates for the linking sample are used to find the transformation constants necessary to place the current assessment scale scores on the scale used to report previous assessment scale scores. The transformed provisional estimates are based on previous assessment data and current assessment scaling results, transformed to the reporting metric using the transformation constants calculated from the original and provisional estimates for the linking sample. If the transformation constants are correct, the original and transformed provisional means should be the same.

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