The implementation of a district-wide testing program requires careful consideration of credibility issues. These issues have been frequently overlooked or treated casually by test developers and users alike. It is well enough to study the reliability and validity issues involved when selecting instrumentation. It is also necessary to identify…

The effects of students taking different levels of the same standardized achievement test were assessed by administering two levels of the same test to each student. The functional level of the test was taken by all students. The second level of testing was randomly assigned at the adjacent higher or lower level of the test. Functional level…

The selection, administration and results of a statewide school readiness test in South Carolina are described in this report. As one component of South Carolina's Basic Skills Assessment Program, the "Cognitive Skills Assessment Battery" (CSAB) was chosen to distinguish those children who are ready for the formal first grade curriculum…

It is suggested that funders revise the manner in which accountability is determined regarding both program superiority and the way in which special school programs are evaluated. In any alternative mode of showing accountability, preoccupation with dollars and amount learned should not take precedence over humaneness in the classroom. (Author)

The testing manual for middle and secondary schools of the School City of Gary is provided. The manual is divided into five parts: (1) rationale of the citywide testing program--selection and classification decisions, evaluation of treatments and verification of hypotheses, selection of tests, and general testing principles; (2) preparation for…

The history and development of city-wide testing programs in Chicago since 1936 are reviewed and placed in context with the impact on testing of Sputnik and the passage of the National Defense Education Act of 1958. Current testing problems include the time lag between events and curricular changes and new test construction, the time lag between…

A PLANNING CONFERENCE WAS HELD TO STUDY THE QUESTION OF EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDIZED FOREIGN LANGUAGE READING PROFICIENCY TESTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS. THE CONSENSUS OF THE CONFERENCE WAS THAT STANDARDIZED TESTS WERE NEEDED AND THAT THERE BE TWO FOLLOWUP PHASES TO THE PLANNING CONFERENCE. PHASE 1 WOULD CONSIDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE…

This paper describes the experiences of the Ector County Independent School District (Odessa, Texas) in selecting published achievement test to determine the effectiveness of a newly established curriculum. A task force of 24 faculty and staff met for three months. During this time they reviewed the district's philosophy of testing, developed new…

This paper reports the results of a survey conducted in the spring of l981 that was designed to collect and summarize guidelines on appropriate test use from the various organizations, agencies, and associations involved in standardized educational testing. The primary objective of the study was to learn how these various groups define the issues…

This list of tests was compiled as a reference for those persons responsible for the planning of testing programs or evaluation. Although it is not intended to be all-inclusive, 12 reading readiness, 15 reading achievement, 9 diagnostic, and 10 achievement batteries are described. Two programs of supplementary materials are mentioned. Information…

This handbook is designed to serve as a resource for Alaskan district-level administrators in charge of planning, implementing and monitoring districtwide student assessment programs. The information is divided into 10 chapters, including: (1) aligning assessment with curriculum and instruction; (2) planning an assessment program; (3)…

Several of the major considerations involved in implementing a statewide testing program are discussed. The test results provide information which influences the educational enterprise in matters of curriculum, instruction, guidance, and accountability. Tests to be used in an assessment program must be developed by the administering agency when…

A statement of the major issues surrounding the use of standardized tests in schools is provided, covering the following areas of concern: (1) the major types of standardized tests and how they differ from teacher-made tests; (2) the role of standardized tests in education; (3) administering/scoring standardized tests; (4) interpretation of…

This is the third in a series of investigations, conducted at five-year intervals, into the testing programs of Michigan school districts. The report opens with general data on testing programs and practices in the form of a tabulation of responses to a survey instrument completed by 84% of the districts that operate a K-12 program. A more…

Consideration is given to the degree of congruence between objectives and test items in the evaluation of objective-based testing. An analytic technique that measures congruence is described, and a bibliography is provided. (CK)