This study modeled school and district effects in the mathematics scores of the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) using hierarchical linear modeling. Three-level hierarchical models were fitted to estimate school and district effects in the DSTP mathematics scores and to examine the school and district variance with variables assessing…

A study was conducted to investigate how differential item functioning (DIF) is associated with student characteristics such as gender and ethnicity for the total group and to understand the pattern and nature of existing group differences by conducting DIF analyses separately within gender and ethnicity. The research is unique in that it…

The Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) is a mandated statewide assessment program that targets four core content areas. English language arts, including reading and writing, and mathematics are given to students in grades 3, 5, 8, and 10; science and social studies are given to students in grades 4, 6, 8, and 11. The DSTP reading and…

Trends in the achievement gap between black and white students on Delaware state assessments were studied for 1993 to 2001 for reading and mathematics for grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, and patterns of academic achievement toward the standards were studied for black and white students from grades 3 to grade 5 and from grade 8 to grade 10 in reading and…