Argues that the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is an irrelevant concern because colleges, as a result of declining enrollments, are admitting a very high percentage of their applicants. Questions the predictive ability of the test and urges that other methods of evaluating and defining ability be found. (IRT)

News media reports about Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores and trends have drawn or suggested conclusions about the quality of schools, teachers, and colleges that are neither supported by evidence from the test itself nor consistent with its nature and purpose. (MSE)

"Outlook" is the monthly newsletter of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE). This issue contains the following articles: (1) House Poised to Act on Education Tax Deduction; (2) PDK Poll [34th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools] Shows Big Jump in Support for School Choice;…

Reports on nationwide school improvement trends shown by the following indicators: (1) S.A.T. and A.C.T. scores, (2) school dropout rates, (3) preprimary enrollment rates, (4) increased numbers of required courses, and (5) the 1985 Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitude Toward the Public Schools. Six charts are included. (IW)

Polls dealing with American public education conducted since 1936 are examined, and over 60 items were chosen to illustrate: (1) changes in public opinion since 1960 that might have altered students' evaluations of college attendance or academic excellence, and (2) changes prior to 1960 that might have affected the quality of preparation for…

Standards-based reform is a strategy that includes specifying what is to be learned, devising tests to measure learning, and establishing consequences of performance for students and schools. Popular support remains strong for standards-based reform, according to national polling data as well as local data in the states implementing this strategy.…