Assesses the progress made in recent years toward integrating human and material resources that reflect diverse racial and cultural values into the schools. Focuses in turn on instructional staff, testing materials, parent-community participation, and instructional materials and concludes that while progress has been made, much remains to be done.…

As a test of the persistence of the effects of enrichment preschooling, and as a further stage of the evaluation of the Bourke preschool in New South Wales, 96 Aboriginal and white children, preschooled and non-preschooled, were given a battery of tests in 1974 measuring verbal intelligence, language development and classificatory skills.…

Two forms of a test of consumer competency, developed as valid, reliable, normed tests in consumer education, were given to Illinois public school students in grades 8-12. A comparison of mean scores indicated that students who had completed a consumer education course scored higher on both test forms than those who had not. Test results are shown…

Part of a special issue on adaptive behavior, the article presents a brief and selective history of the care and treatment of persons with mental retardation, emphasizing the roles that adaptive behavior has played in assessment and treatment. Current and possible future applications of adaptive behavior are also discussed. (Author/JW)

Four problems related to how to best use testing and assessment to improve learning are discussed: (1) criterion- versus norm-referenced scores; (2) scaling; (3) communication and reporting of achievement; and (4) external versus school-based assessment. Comparisons of current practices in different countries, described in subsequent articles, are…

Views teacher-made tests as a fundamental part of the educational process, defining instructional purposes, influencing what students study, and helping instructors gain perspective on their courses. Offers examples of test items that can perform these functions, while assessing knowledge and skills. (DMM)

Investigated whether structuring textbook reading passages in accordance with a deductive concept presentation strategy affects students' concept attainment. Results showed that good and average readers scored significantly higher in concept attainment with structuring, but that poor readers failed to show improvement. (TRS)

This paper details procedures to be followed in analyzing multiple program options and time allocation for significant effects. A multiple-option supplementary education program was evaluated by the application of multiple regression analysis as a general data analytic system. (Author)

This report presents results of the NAEP 2003 fourth- and eighth-grade reading assessments for the nation, for regions of the country, for participating states and other jurisdictions, and for participating urban districts. Assessment results are described in terms of students' average reading score on a 0-500 scale and in terms of the percentage…

The purpose of this simulation was to assess the improvements in estimates of standard errors that could be expected if students participating in NAEP were pre-assigned to test booklets that were adapted to their level of performance based on their state assessment scores. Students in extreme quartiles would receive one regular NAEP block and…

The purpose of this document is to help states and districts meet the challenges posed by the 1994 reauthorization of Title I. The goal in developing this document was to produce a practical guide for states and districts to use in developing the systems they were creating under the Title I law. Following an introduction to Title I, chapter 2…

As states and communities across the United States work to raise expectations for student learning, many are challenged by concerns and questions from increasingly vocal parents and teachers. This report summarizes the best advice for business coalitions and standards advocates on how to address the testing backlash. It also features an analysis…

This paper provides an analysis of educational equity in science and mathematics and proposes a practical way to assess equity in systemic reform. A synthesis of major national and international studies as well as a comprehensive review of the literature is used to suggest a way to assess when educational systems, particularly those involved in…

In the United States today tests of the ability to perform well in school divide society and define opportunity. Higher education has become a major focus of aspirations people hold for their children, and educational testing determines who qualifies for higher education. This history recounts the development of intelligence testing and its early…

Describes a program designed to overcome the constraints small college instructors face in teaching economics. (Author/RK)