Recent implementation of Nebraska's Standards-based Teacher-led Assessment and Reporting System (STARS) introduced a unique opportunity to examine the benefits and drawbacks of a teacher-led state assessment system. STARS is unique among state assessment systems in that statewide tests are replaced by locally developed assessments designed by…

A critical, but often neglected, component of any large-scale assessment program is the reporting of test results. In the past decade, a body of evidence has been compiled that raises concerns over the ways in which these results are reported to and understood by their intended audiences. In this study, current approaches for reporting…

This study was designed to carry out a survey of the implementation of continuous assessment (CA) in Nigerian universities. Two research questions and one hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. The sample for the study consisted of 1,340 respondents. A 24 item self-report instrument was used for the study. The data generated, were analyzed…

This booklet contains the Writing Framework for the 1998 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The Framework describes the basis for the 1998 Writing Assessment, the types of writing assessed, and the methods for scoring student responses. This Framework was developed during 1989-90 in preparation for the 1992 NAEP Writing…

The Tribal American Consulting Corporation (TACC) has been working toward development of both a special educational program for preschool Native American children in Los Angeles and a suitable evaluation program for these urban Indian children. (JC)

Almost every state has in place a state assessment and accountability system. These systems vary greatly in their characteristics but share a common global purpose of improving teaching and learning. Some of the variations in the state systems are discussed and illustrated with examples from selected states. Issues that are critical to the value…

Attempts to present a methodology for evaluating potential for supervisory positions among a group of individuals labeled disadvantaged, by means of simulation exercises. (Author/DR)

Provides background information on the move toward competency testing in composition and the subsequent implications for college writing instructors. Examines problems inherent to developing a comptency based program at the college level and what composition teachers need to be aware of regarding such testing. (HTH)

Develops and evaluates the linkage of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery to the mathematics scale of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The accuracy of the proficiency distribution estimated from the projection was close to the accuracy of the distribution estimated from the large scale assessment. (SLD)

Evaluated the effect of the League of Professional Schools, a democratic reform in Georgia, using performance measures from the state's educational performance measurement system. Performance of League schools was positive relative to several performance standards, but it was not possible to demonstrate that the League was a necessary component of…

Embarking on a high-stakes online testing program is a major enterprise that requires planning, teamwork, communication, flexibility and good problem-solving skills. It is important to be aware of the issues that one may confront and what hurdles might have to be overcome to be successful in the job. The Virginia Department of Education…

Many of us have an intuitive understanding of physics that works surprisingly well to guide everyday action, but we would not attempt to send a rocket to the moon with it. Unfortunately, the authors argue, our policy makers are not as cautious when it comes to basing our school accountability system on intuitive test theory. Intuitive physics…

The purpose of this handbook is to assist state, district, and school personnel in implementing the Assessment Component of the Foundation Program Assessment and Improvement System (FPAIS). The FPAIS is a comprehensive system for managing curriculum, intended to improve instruction for students. The Assessment Component includes the gathering and…

The author maintains that guidance counselors must make a definite commitment to a complete testing program. He also proposes that special workshops be offered to update counselors on testing programs in the secondary schools. (Author/HMV)

Dental students at one school were placed in two groups and surveyed about their attitudes toward the testing program and themselves as operative dentists. The students in the experimental group participated in a self-assessment with computer-generated feedback. Results of both groups are compared. (Author/MLW)