The impact of achievement testing on a Spring-Spring vs. a Fall-Spring basis in evaluation of compensatory education programs is examined. The effects of the summer vacation period and crossing test levels were examined. Significant decreases in achievement test scores were found, at all grade levels, between Spring and Fall test administrations.…

Several sets of data are analyzed, all of which demonstrate that estimates of achievement rates can differ dramatically when different time periods are used for an evaluation of a compensatory education program. Specifically, it is found that including the summer months in an evaluation often considerably reduces estimates of achievement and hence…

This guide explains the concept of out-of-level testing and suggests a formula for estimating the occurrence of floor effects and ceiling effects, within the context of models for evaluating Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I programs. An analogy explains floor and ceiling effects as if test items are stored in different levels in a…

Twelve common errors which can invalidate an otherwise sound evaluation are identified, and ways to avoid them are presented. The hazards are: (1) grade-equivalent scores; (2) inappropriate statistical adjustments with nonequivalent control groups; (3) administering norm-referenced tests at inappropriate times of the school year; (4) inappropriate…

The current study is an extension fo the Instructional Dimensions Study (IDS), part of a comprehensive study of compensatory education programs. This study had two purposes: (1) to investigate achievement changes over the summer of 1977 and during the 1978 calendar year for IDS students, and (2) to compare summer gains of compensatory and…

Out of level testing is defined and reasons for administering out of level tests, especially in compensatory education programs are explained: (1) to achieve optimum test reliability; (2) to test student achievement--provided out of level test scores are interpreted in terms of the appropriate in-level population; (3) to avoid carelessness and…

The effectiveness of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I reading and mathematics laboratories were evaluated to assess the improvement of underachieving elementary school students' academic skills. Laboratory students were selected on the basis of academic (rather than socioeconomic) criteria in grades 2 through 5; the control…

The Rasch model for test score equating was compared with three other equating procedures as methods for implementing the norm referenced method (RMC Model A) of evaluating ESEA Title I projects. The Rasch model and its theoretical limitations were described. The three other equating methods used were: linear observed score equating, linear true…

THIS REPORT OF WISCONSIN'S COMPENSATORY EDUCATION PROJECTS CONTAINS INFORMATION PERTINENT TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS--OPERATION AND SERVICES, DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION, SELECTION OF PROJECT EVALUATION, DESIGN, PROBLEMS, RELATION TO OTHER ESEA TITLES, COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS, COOPERATIVE PROJECTS BETWEEN DISTRICTS, SERVICES TO…

IN THIS ANNUAL EVALUATION REPORT THE COMPENSATORY EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AND METHODS OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT TITLE I PROGRAMS IN GEORGIA ARE DESCRIBED ACCORDING TO THE FORMAT STIPULATED BY THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION. THE EXTENSIVE STATISTICAL DATA WHICH CONSTITUTE THE BULK OF THE REPORT GIVE ACHIEVEMENT TEST RESULTS, ATTENDANCE AND…