This guide explains the concept of out-of-level testing and suggests a formula for estimating the occurrence of floor effects and ceiling effects, within the context of models for evaluating Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I programs. An analogy explains floor and ceiling effects as if test items are stored in different levels in a…

The use of a computerized system is described in which students rate each other's term papers via the computer program PEERRATE, which creates a matrix of intervals between ratings received and calculates final ratings incorporating a mean and standard deviation selected by the instructor for the class. As described, the program includes: (1)…

The Rasch model was used to compare the grade equivalent scores which students of equal ability would have obtained, had they taken different levels of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS). Raw scores on items common to levels 9-14 of the ITBS (vocabulary subtest) were obtained from 6,000 students in Dallas, Texas. Rasch scales were used to…

The author addresses issues raised by Burket (TM 510 174) about the Iowa Test of Basic Skills scaling procedures. Further reasons for his criticism of Thurstone scale scores and item response theory scale scores for elementary school achievement tests are given. (BS)

The average grade equivalent reading comprehension scores of students in Black schools are compared to those of students in White schools under two forms of test administration. Concludes that use of grade level testing with the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills is biased in favor of low scoring subgroups. (Author)

In comparing the annual growth of low-achieving students and high-achieving students who remain at the same percentile rank, educators must choose between the properties of developmental standard scores and grade equivalents. The growth patterns for grade equivalent scores may be more reasonable than those for standard score scales. (SLD)

School unit achievement gains computed by six different methods are compared. The data include total reading scores from the Metropolitan Achievement Test administered to Title I students in 32 elementary schools. The achievement gains were computed in standard scores, grade equivalents, percentile ranks, residual scores based on individual scores…

A STUDY OF FIVE DIFFERENT ESSAY EVALUATION PROCEDURES WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE INTRARELIABILITY OF EACH AND TO USE THESE RELIABILITY SCORES AS A BASIS FOR COMPARING THE FIVE PROCEDURES. TEN THEMES WERE ASSIGNED TO FIVE RATING GROUPS, EACH USING A DIFFERENT EVALUATION PROCEDURE--(1) THE CALIFORNIA ESSAY SCALE, (2) THE CLEVELAND COMPOSITION…

Of the 47,000 bilingual pupils enrolled in the Chicago public schools, 39,000 were Spanish speaking. Many of these Spanish speaking students were in special bilingual programs. The success of one of these bilingual programs was evaluated by comparing two groups of Mexican American elementary pupils in the same school. One group was comprised of 14…

Possible misinterpretation of grade equivalents to measure the growth and the placing students is the subject of this research. The findings suggest the use of standard scores as the most appropriate method to measure change. (MFD)

The use of standardized achievement tests as the primary criterion measures in the evaluation of basic skills programs has been criticized. In a comparative study of three types of tests, this article examines the major issue behind this criticism. (Author/JAZ)

Describes a study that examined the effectiveness of theory-based computer-assisted instruction for reading with incarcerated adults reading below the ninth-grade level. Results of pre- and post-tests showed a significant reading achievement gain for computer-assisted reading instruction compared to traditional instruction for the lowest Grade…

Grade-equivalent scores are widely used in the school system in reporting students' performance on standardized achievement tests. This paper explores how grade equivalent scores are calculated and interpreted. In addition, the paper examines the limitations of grade-equivalent scores through the use of small heuristic data sets. A…

This report on the educational system of Cameroon contains information for university admissions officers and registrars in the United States on the credentials and other documentation that would be minimally required for student entry from Cameroon to specified levels of study in the United States. In Cameroon French and English languages share…

This document contains 49 pages of tables presenting data ranking schools' reading achievement in New York City. Scores are from the Degrees of Reading Power test administered in grades 3 to 10 in 1986. This report complies with the New York City Decentralization Law's requirement that each school be ranked by the percentage of pupils reading at…