Uniformity of assessment in identifying gifted students should be replaced by a variety of measures to document the unique personal and learning characteristics as a basis for instruction. (CL)

The importance of applying multiple selection criteria from the beginning in the identification of gifted students is stressed. Approaches which use achievement and intelligence tests as a primary screening criteria before applying multiple criteria are said to be only skin deep. (CL)

The controversy about the use or misuse of statistical significance testing has become the major methodological issue in educational research. This special issue contains three articles that explore the controversy, three commentaries on these articles, an overall response, and three rejoinders by the first three authors. They are: (1)…

This document describes the development of an instrument designed to assess the implementation of a professional learning community among school staff. It describes the growing need for such instruments as schools increasingly deviate from traditional approaches in education in their efforts to enhance student learning. An instrument that could be…

This document consists of the four issues of the "IACD Quarterly" published in 1992. Articles in this volume include: (1) "A Multicultural Approach to Assertiveness Training" (Wilma Henry and Mary Ann Jones); (2) "Life-Skills: Research and Application" (Michael Illovsky); (3) "'A Model for Grief Counseling:…

This theme issue focuses on the use and consequences of high stakes tests. The lead article, "High-Stakes Testing: Too Much? Too Soon?" by Sherry Freeland Walker, introduces the topic and related issues, outlining the pros and cons of high stakes testing by the states. The problem, some experts say, is that states have tried to do too much too…

This theme issue reviews the advantages and disadvantages of testing. Both activists and researchers seem to agree that tests measure a limited range of skills and that test preparation alone does not improve teaching or learning. There is also substantial agreement among researchers and activists opposed to widespread test use that no single…

The Fairfax County Public schools (VA) presents Familygram, a newsletter directed to parents to help them better discuss and use test results for the improvement of their child's education and the quality of the education program in Fairfax County. An attempt is made to answer several important questions: What tests are given? Which of them are…

This document consists of articles 1 through 25 published in the electronic journal Education Policy Analysis Archives for the year 2002: (1) Testing and Diversity in Postsecondary Education: The Case of California (Daniel Koretz, Michael Russell, Chingwei David Shin, Cathy Horn, and Kelly Shasby); (2) State-Mandated Testing and Teachers Beliefs…

This document consists of the six issues of the newsletter of the General Educational Development Testing (GED) Service published during 1997. The lead articles of the six issues are, respectively: (1) "Task Force Considers Improvements to Test Center Security Rules," by Cathy Allin discusses the implementation of a monitoring team and…

This paper addresses the controversy about use of "out-of-level" testing, the practice of assessing students (usually those with disabilities) with a lower-level version of a test. The controversy pits unintended instructional consequences against "accurately" measuring performance and avoiding student frustration. Introductory…

Assessment systems to measure high educational standards emerged as the major theme at the 1996 conference of the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST), "Moving Up to Complex Assessment." This feature article, providing a summation of the proceedings of the conference, reports that the…

The state-by-state comparisons of results on the 1998 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) present the literacy community with some good news and a bit of a puzzle: scores have improved, but the results cannot provide answers as to why one grade or state is doing better or worse than in the past. State-by-state results show that…

The objections of testing experts to standardized testing are evaluated. The report begins with a foreword by Chester E. Finn, Jr., followed by an executive summary and an introduction. Four case studies include: (1) experts' opposition to high-stakes testing in Texas; (2) in North Carolina; (3) concerns raised in connection with the National…

Portfolios can demonstrate student mastery of material and their work with concepts and content, as well as their ability to link material with other knowledge. Portfolios can closely relate what students learn to what teachers believe they teach. The decision to use portfolios requires planning, professional development, decision making, and a…