International large-scale assessments (ILSAs) play a distinct role in the United States' decentralized federal education system. Separate from national and state assessments, they offer an external, objective measure for the United States to assess student performance comparatively with other countries and over time. The US engagement in ILSAs…

THE ASSUMPTION THAT ONE-TENTH OF THE YEARLY GROWTH IN ALL ACHIEVEMENT AREAS TAKES PLACE EACH MONTH OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THAT ONE-TENTH OF THE YEARLY GROWTH OCCURS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WAS INVESTIGATED. THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANNUAL IOWA BASIC SKILLS TESTING PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF IOWA. MEDIANS FOR THE 11 SUBTESTS…

This paper examines long-range problems caused by test-controlled schooling. It looks at the demands of both curricular and accountability uses of tests from the point of view of the urban school district's testing office. On the basis of interviews with 12 New Orleans teachers and the experiences of the authors in working in two large city…

A group supportive testing procedure and acculturation level are investigated as to their influence upon achievement test scores of 150 culturally diverse inner city school students in grades four through six. The group supportive testing procedure was specifically designed as a facilitation strategy that attempted to mirror the more typical…

In response to concerns raised by principals at both the elementary and intermediate levels regarding the amount of instructional time consumed by students taking tests which were not related to day-to-day instruction, a study was conducted of the amount of time spent preparing to give such tests and actually administering them, and the manner in…

THIS STUDY, CONDUCTED BY THE WISCONSIN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-ARTS CURRICULUM PROJECT, DESCRIBES, ANALYZES, AND EVALUATES 16 STANDARDIZED ENGLISH TESTS OF USAGE AND COMPOSITION. THE TESTS CHOSEN WERE THOSE FREQUENTLY USED THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN, EXCLUSIVE OF TESTS DESIGNED FOR COLLEGE-PREPARATORY STUDENTS AND TESTS OF READING ABILITY, SPEECH, AND…

Stanford Achievement Test scores of 1,434 elementary-level students already placed in either regular or special education programs were arranged according to four cutoff points: 20th, 15th, 10th, and 5th percentiles. This identification method, setting the cutoff at the 5 percent level, is proposed as a preliminary screening device for special…

This report contains 11 tables and 5 figures documenting the results for the General Educational Development (GED) tests in 1992. The tables provide information on the following: testing volumes; percent tested by age group; credentials issued by age group; testing by language; testing by special editions and adaptations; highest grade completed;…

This report contains 13 tables and 13 figures documenting the results for the General Educational Development (GED) tests in 1994. The tables and figures provide information on the following: GED participation and credentials issued--percent change from 1993 to 1994; testing volumes; percent tested by age group; credentials issued by age group;…

An updated and improved listing of test and measurement items useful in Adult Basic Education Classrooms is provided. Diagnostic, placement, achievement, and group and individual intelligence tests are reviewed. Information on test type and purpose, appropriate grade level, test time, number of forms, the manual, scoring, and format is included.…

This bulletin attempts to explain the use and limitations of regularly the process of selecting educational areas which should receive additional interpret adequately their meaning to parents and students. A companion publication "Understanding Testing Purposes and Interpretations for Pupil Development," also prepared by HEW, was issued in 1960. A…

This report contains 12 tables and 12 figures documenting the results for the General Educational Development (GED) tests in 1993. The tables and figures provide information on the following: testing volumes; percent tested by age group; credentials issued by age group; testing by language; testing by special editions and adaptations; highest…

It is asserted in this paper that some standardized tests do not do a good job of what they claim to do, and for some testing purposes nonstandardized tests are more appropriate or efficient. Under present circumstances, group I.Q. tests should be abolished. They provide no useful information that cannot be gained from achievement tests. And what…

"The Politics and Process of Evaluation and Decision Making in the Schools: The Shawnee Mission, Kansas, Experience" and "Use of National Assessment Model for Classroom Evaluation" were two papers presented at the Regional Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies. The first paper concerned the development of an…

Positive approaches to increase student achievement in language classes focus on the potential influence of norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests. The author cites instances to prove that teacher efficiency increases when teachers are held responsible for student achievement. Discussion of success factors relates testing practices…