The innovators of a functional level testing program must make decisions in the context of situational factors. There are several decision points involving the important elements of a testing program. Establishing the need for functional level testing is the first decision to be made. A systematic examination of in-level test data will document…

A statement of the major issues surrounding the use of standardized tests in schools is provided, covering the following areas of concern: (1) the major types of standardized tests and how they differ from teacher-made tests; (2) the role of standardized tests in education; (3) administering/scoring standardized tests; (4) interpretation of…

Information regarding state minimum competency testing programs was requested from the 50 state departments of education in the United States in the spring of 1979. The following questions were asked: (1) Do you have a testing program? (2) If you do, what tests are being used? (3) Do you have a testing program in the planning stages? (4) Are there…

This Resource Notebook is designed to help New Jersey school districts implement the state's Public School Education Act of 1975 which mandates a thorough and efficient (T & E) system of free public schools. The notebook is divided into three parts. Part I, the user's guide, discusses the purpose of data-based decision making, specifically…

This group-oriented workbook for teachers and administrators is a three stage guide to program planning, development, and evaluation. The first stage consists of identifying and ranking areas of concern in terms of value to students, staff, community or school board, and program. A learner goal needs assessment instrument, and a formal statement…

The aim of the South Carolina Basic Skills Assessment Program was to meet legislative requirements, to improve instruction and to integrate instructional sensitivity into the state's educational programs for grades K-12 in the basic skill areas of reading, writing and mathematics. In their task of identifying, compiling and revising educational…

To comply with Ohio state standards, guidelines are provided for local school districts to organize a competency program. Five steps are outlined: (1) planning the program, including budgeting, scheduling, inservice training, coordinating advisory and working committees, and ensuring public awareness; (2) establishing competencies, by developing…

The document relates a search for instruments to measure affective goals of educational programs. The document is part of the final report of a project to humanize education. The document is presented in five major sections. Section I presents a conceptual framework for categorizing affective instruments according to the dimension of affect…

A method of developing measurement instruments to assess academic achievement in proficiency-based education is presented. Materials and exercises are sequenced to correspond to major activities which must be completed in developing local assessment systems. The exercises contained in this workshop guide have been field tested and can be followed…

Traditionally, tests administered in the Fremont, California Unified School District were selected by administrators at the district office level. For this practicum, a district selection committee, composed of certificated staff on all levels, reviewed and selected tests to be administered within the district. Testing workshops were conducted for…