Curriculum-Based Measurement of Oral Reading (CBM-R) is used to collect time series data, estimate the rate of student achievement, and evaluate program effectiveness. A series of 5 studies were carried out to evaluate the validity, reliability, precision, and diagnostic accuracy of progress monitoring across a variety of progress monitoring…

Formative assessment measures are commonly used in schools to assess reading and to design instruction accordingly. The purpose of this research was to investigate the incremental and concurrent validity of formative assessment measures of reading comprehension. It was hypothesized that formative measures of reading comprehension would contribute…

The Delaware School Climate Survey-Student (DSCS-S) was developed to provide schools with a brief and psychometrically sound student survey for assessing school climate, particularly the dimensions of social support and structure. Confirmatory factor analyses, conducted on a sample of 11,780 students in 85 schools, showed that a bifactor model…

To examine the convergent and discriminant validity of the scales on the "Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning-Third Edition" [DIAL-3; Mardell-Czudnowski, C., and Goldenberg, D.S. (1998). "Developmental indicators for the assessment of learning-third edition." Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service,…

Teacher, peer, and student reports of the quality of the teacher-student relationship were obtained for an ethnically diverse and academically at-risk sample of 706 second- and third-grade students. Cluster analysis identified four types of relationships based on the consistency of child reports of support and conflict in the relationship with…

Examined the Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning (DIAL) with regard to its effectiveness in predicting school success as determined by subjects' (N=245) first-grade performance on the California Achievement Test (CAT). Found the DIAL concepts subtest to be the most valid single predictor. (Author/ABB)

Calculated intra-cognitive strengths and weaknesses of children in grades 1 through 12, using two common criteria for defining exceptionality. Found that an individual's total number of significant intra-cognitive strengths and/or weaknesses has little diagnostic significance as pertains to low- or under-achievement in reading, mathematics, or…

Due to changes in state and federal policies, as well as logistical and fiscal limitations, researchers must increasingly rely on teachers' reports of school climate dimensions in order to investigate the developmental impact of these dimensions, and to evaluate efforts to enhance the impact of school environments on the development of young…

Evaluated extent to which brief screening measure predicted achievement in young children. Screening test scores from 796 students in kindergarten through second grade were correlated with subsequent teacher evaluations, end-of-year grades, and, for second-graders, achievement test scores. Screening test scores were found to be significant…

Administered the Gesell Development Exam and the Bracken Basic Concept Scale (BBCS) to kindergarten graduates (N=80). Found the BBCS may be a better predictor of achievement from a current state of readiness. (Author/ABL)

Examined stability and predictive validity of Boehm Test of Basic Concepts-Revised (Boehm-R). Administered Boehm-R to 58 Black urban kindergartners in fall. In spring, children were reevaluated on Boehm-R, 2 criteria of academic achievement and 2 criteria of learning-related classroom behavior. Results showed appreciable test-retest reliability…

Investigated the external validity of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability (WJTCA) in learning disabled (LD) elementary school children (N=60). Results suggested that the WJTCA's achievement emphasis jeopardizes its validity for assessing and classifying LD students within the currently accepted and mandated ability-achievement…

IQ tests were viewed solely as predictors in this investigation. The results revealed equal but very low within-ethnic-group correlations between IQ and achievement measures administered concurrently prior to desegregation and for tests administered one and two years following desegregation. (Author)

Compared Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) arithmetic and reading performance of randomly selected primary grade children (N=70) in a suburban school district to grade placement in reading and math and text placement in reading. WRAT scores overestimated actual achievement in all grades tested. (Author/NRB)

Evaluated the test bias of the Verbal IQ as measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised in relation to predictions of academic achievement in two different socioeconomic status groups. Results indicated that Verbal IQs are not biased with respect to socioeconomic status. (Author)