This article describes key findings from contemporary research on screening for early primary grade students in the area of mathematics. Existing studies were used to illustrate the constructs most worth measuring and the diverse strategies that researchers used to study potential measures. The authors discussed the strengths and weaknesses of…

The prominent use of DIBELS as a screening and placement tool has provided schools and districts the ability to implement interventions and best practices for students, particularly in the primary grades. Although many studies have highlighted the predictive validity of oral reading fluency (ORF) to anticipate reading performance, few have…

This article describes key findings from contemporary research on screening for early primary grade students in the area of mathematics. Existing studies were used to illustrate the constructs most worth measuring and the diverse strategies that researchers used to study potential measures. The authors discussed the strengths and weaknesses of…

Evaluated extent to which brief screening measure predicted achievement in young children. Screening test scores from 796 students in kindergarten through second grade were correlated with subsequent teacher evaluations, end-of-year grades, and, for second-graders, achievement test scores. Screening test scores were found to be significant…

During the academic year 1978-79 school teams implemented a newly developed early identification system in all kindergarten and grade one classes in London, Ontario schools. After analysis and revision of the system, the short-term predictive validity of the process was investigated by comparing school team identification ratings made in January…

The Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) scores of 98 high-risk kindergarten children were correlated with their scores on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). It was concluded that the predictive validity of the SIT was very low. (Author/CTM)

First-Grade Screening Test scores of 72 kindergarten children were compared with end-of-year kindergarten performance and midyear achievement testing in first grade. Results suggested moderate predictive utility. Strong relationships with concept-learning and direction-following tasks indicated that the test's construct validity needs to be…

Research is reviewed on the validity of the Kindergarten Screening Inventory (KSI), an instrument developed by the Houston, Texas Independent School District to screen kindergarten students for possible difficulties that could lead to learning problems. The KSI includes eye-hand coordination, language learning, gross-motor subtests, as well as…

Evaluated the predictive validity of the Yellow Brick Road Test (YBRT) relative to performance in reading as measured by the Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT). A full prediction-performance comparison matrix was employed to compare three different cutoff scores for kindergarten-aged children (N=214). Concluded that the YBRT is moderately valid.…

The McCarthy Screening Test, the psychological screening test used in a Vancouver pilot project, was administered to 796 kindergarten children. Among findings was that the McCarthy can predict about two of every three students who will subsequently be referred or who will not meet grade expectations. (Author/SB)

Confirms low positive identification rates when kindergarten teachers were asked to predict future reading achievement using a traditional rating scale, while a project-developed, theory-based screening battery correctly identified 81% of poor readers. Suggests that both teacher ratings and screening tests be used to identify the largest number of…

An item analysis of Harris' scoring system for the Goodenough-Harris Draw-A-Man Test was conducted by comparing sets of protocols obtained in the early fall of kindergarten from children whose overall in-class academic performance placed them either in an at-risk category (N=21) or at the top of their class (N=38) by the end of the school year.…

Investigation into the most effective use of a kindergarten screening battery to predict second-grade reading and mathematics achievement found that a combination of 10 readiness subtests resulted in the same degree of accuracy as that obtained using the entire battery. However, neither version was accurate enough to be useful. (Author/CB)

The Screening Test of Academic Readiness (STAR) was administered to three samples of kindergarten pupils. A series of factor analyses was performed to determine whether the STAR could be used for individualized diagnosis and remediation. Results showed that two oblique factors emerged which had limited meaning. (Author/BW)

Findings from a 5-year follow-up study of 78 kindergartners suggest that while the Revised Denver Developmental Screening Test (RDDST) accurately predicts academic achievement and standardized test performance, it consistently misclassifies as normal the performance of a significant number of children who require special help in their early…