This paper focuses on the role of cognitive disequilibrium in preparing democratic educational leaders. Followers emerge into leaders with what are many times unconsciously socialized norms and values indigenous to their local culture. One of the roles of a democratic leadership preparation program is to challenge these unconsciously accepted…

A large scale study of local norms that are directly related to the interests of military education counselors is described. In a cooperative effort, the U.S. Armed Forces Institute and the Test Department of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. normed the Adult Basic Learning Examination (ABLE) and validated its utility in predicting success on the…

This paper discussed two innovations in the application of computer technology to vocational counseling in a university: (1) administration and scoring of a vocational interest inventory through the means of a cathode-ray-tube typewriter computer terminal, and (2) the development of the major field of study map (MFM), using local university norms.…

Standardized test scores (STS) should be used on a local level: (1) as one component of evaluation of a student, school, or district; (2) to draw as much interpretive meaning from a norm-referenced test (NRT) as their structure will support; (3) as a communication device with students, parents, the public, and professional staff; (4) to check…

This paper is divided into two parts. The purpose of Part I is the review of some of the history of school average norms, beginning with Dr. E. F. Lindquist's call for such norms in 1948; the development of such norms for standardized achievement tests; current policies and practices regarding aggregated school data; and a presentation of norms…

This document provides four tables that contain public school enrollment data for the school years 1991-92 and 1992-93. The following are the tables: (1) public school enrollments for the 50 states and the District of Columbia (a comparison of total state enrollments for 1991-92 compared to 1992-93 listing the variance and percent of variance);…

A national study was conducted to determine both the perceived importance and the current practices of ongoing staff development programs in different regions in the United States. Responses to questionnaires were received from 267 school districts. A total of 51 school districts from the South, 49 from the Midwest, 44 from the East, and 39 from…

This study analyzed the relationship between district characteristics and the likelihood that first-year teachers would be offered specific staff-development programs or would be consulted about their staff-development needs. The population comprised 434 first-year secondary and 1200 elementary teachers from Illinois. Eight hundred thirty-four…

This study sought to determine whether there is a variety of Nigerian English acceptable as a teaching model to prospective Nigerian primary school teachers of different ethnic groups. Results indicate that: (1) contrary to common belief, there are Nigerians of different ethnic groups who speak a variety of English acceptable to other Nigerians of…

Specific recommendations are made concerning the circumstances under which the benefits of out-of-level testing outweigh the problems associated with it. Topics explored are: various methods for deciding when a set of test scores is invalid and the utility of these methods for local evaluators, the accuracy of vertical scaling, and the usefulness…

The fear of violence among students and teachers is straining the learning environment in many schools. This paper presents findings of a study that investigated school district characteristics in relation to the level of principals' expressed needs for school-violence prevention programs. The district characteristics included finance, size,…

Three local norm methods for deriving Elementary Secondary Education Act Title I normal curve equivalent (NCE) gains are compared to each other and to the usual Model A1 which uses national norms. The 1977-78 Title I evaluation data for Chicago students ages 9-13 were used to estimate gains. Reading and total math scores from the 1971 Iowa Tests…

A study of 1,497 nonmetropolitan counties was conducted to test the possible contribution of agricultural chemical use to cancer mortality rates in rural counties. The dependent variables were 20-year age-adjusted mortality rates for 1950 to 1969 for five categories of cancer: genital, urinary, lymphatic, respiratory, and digestive. Because sex…

This paper discusses a study of at-risk students in two highly contrastive schools, located in different districts, in order to illustrate the comparative perspective on how district and school characteristics might influence the definition of and response to at-risk students. The study is linked with a larger cultural context through an…

The validity of the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS) and problems associated with inappropriate norms were investigated in eleven senior high schools in Phoenix, Arizona. CTBS validity was assessed in three ways: (1) correlation between test scores and number of courses taken in that subject; (2) correlation between CTBS scores and…