This review critiques the highly-praised and influential 2001 study, "Getting Tough? The Impact of High School Graduation Exams," which concluded that "minimum competency," or high school "graduation exams," had no effect on student achievement. The review compares the test classifications of "Getting…

The study reviewed the performance of 300 educable mentally retarded 10th graders on the Florida State Student Assessment Test which evaluates specified minimum performance standards in basic academic skills. Retarded students scored lower and were less likely than other students to attain the required level of mastery prior to graduation.…

This report is part of an overall regional needs assessment effort undertaken by Research by Better schools and it summarizes test results from state education agencies in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Performance trends over the past several years were analyzed. Major findings indicate that: (1)…

The study surveyed the 50 states and the District of Columbia to identify current state policies that regulate graduation requirements and to determine how these policies have been applied to programs for high school special education students. Survey results produced four major findings: (1) all but three states have legislation or state board of…

This document presents data on the student performance of North Carolina students for the year 1994. Section 1 traces the development of school and student accountability measures, outlines the implementation of actions designed to enhance program equity throughout the state, and describes specific program and student performance standards as they…

Recent criticism of public education has led to demands for educational improvement. Responses to this criticism include the development of minimum competency tests (MCTs) and calls for increased academic requirements. This paper reviews a national survey of state graduation requirements that reveals a wide variance in requirements. Eighteen…

Describes statewide results on minimum competency testing (MCT) programs newly implemented in Texas, and discusses initial efforts to predict the impact of a specific statewide MCT program on retention and graduation in Houston. Suggests that the new MCT requirements, by discouraging high risk students who previously might have stayed in school,…

Peoria's efforts with the development and implications of a Minimum Competency Testing (MCT) program are described, including the program model used, numbers of high school seniors and seventh graders who passed the pilot test sequence, and views on the advantages, disadvantages, and effectiveness of the MCT program. (Editor/SJL)

Parents, teachers and administrators examined the Basic Skills Program in the Newark School District. The study was designed: (1) to determine the relative satisfaction with components of the reading and math aligned curricula and instructional time, (2) to determine the relationship between satisfaction with these variables and achievement, and…

According to the New Mexico Basic Skills Plan, students' attainment of basic skills is assessed by the objective and writing appraisal portions of the New Mexico High School Proficiency Examination (NMHSPE). This report to the New Mexico State Department of Education compiles and analyzes data on diploma endorsements (gold seals) for 1983…

New Mexico has established a system of student achievement assessment that consists of four coordinated testing programs. District and state results are given for these assessments. The Reading Assessment, consisting of a norm-referenced test and a criterion-referenced test, is used in grades 1 and 2 to assess student mastery of essential…

The Student Assessment and Minimum Student Performance Standards Sections of the Florida Department of Education present the results of the April and October 1981 administrations of the State Student Assessment Test, Parts I (basic skills) and II (application of basic skills). Grades 3, 5, 8 and 11 were measured on minimal performance in the basic…

This third volume of the Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS) Student Performance Results reports school district and campus performance results alphabetically, based on the percentage of students passing all tests taken in 1989-90. Performance results of special education students are excluded. District and campus results are…

This document sets forth detailed curriculum objectives and an associated three-phase promotion testing program for grades 3, 6, and 8 for public schools in the state of North Carolina. The program was administered for the first time in 1986. The 1987 testing program began with administration of the California Achievement Tests (CAT). Students…

The Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS), a criterion-referenced test, was mandated by the Texas legislature in 1984 to be instituted beginning with the school year 1985-86. This is the first report of TEAMS, which replaces the formerly used Texas Assessment of Basic Skills (TABS), by the Austin Independent School District…