Since 1979, New York State has been working on an instrument to evaluate elementary school students' writing ability. Several thousand writing samples were obtained and were analyzed, by a test development committee consisting of elementary school teachers, qualitatively within each grade as high, average, and low, and in terms of organization and…

This booklet contains the mathematics test (computation and applications) of the Wisconsin Pupil Assessment Program for grade 4. The test consists of 78 items ranging from the measurement of arithmetic skills to knowledge of basic concepts in computer science. (JN)

Drawing on findings of two Center for the Study of Community College (CSCC) projects, this paper reviews some of the services offered by community colleges to facilitate transfer to four-year institutions. Introductory material provides background on the low rates of student transfer and on the CSCC projects, which involve 6 large urban community…

In 1982, a survey of California community colleges was conducted to determine which standardized tests were being used at entrance to college for matriculation and/or placement and to ascertain how satisfied users were with the instruments. Surveys were sent to administrators or staff involved with entrance and assessment practices at 106…

In the spring of 1980, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DODDS) completed its second year of basic skills testing. During the first year, the Basic Skills Assessment Program tested students' math skills in grades 7 and 11, and reading and language skills in grades 9 and 11. During the second year, the testing program was expanded to…

This model is based on the belief that all those affected by a competency-based high school diploma program should help formulate it. School systems should begin by considering two fundamental questions: (1) What competencies should all graduates possess? (2) How can these competencies be tested? The first step is the establishment of an advisory…

In spring l977, a five-member team used the Shepard evaluation method to review the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP). The team's activities were the initial stage of a complete formative MEAP assessment. The Shepard evaluation method consists of a checklist which provides nearly 50 topics to investigate when conducting an evaluation…

The profiles of the California Statewide assessment program permit comparison of a district's test performance with that of previous years and of other districts. After a brief explanation of the tests' development, content, administration, and limitations, this interpretive guide explains how the results are displayed in the district profiles. A…

In Louisiana, the state rated fiftieth in literacy, racism has been legitimized under an educational credo. The Louisiana legislature has established requirements for teacher certification that are insidious and far-reaching, among them laws that affect an undergraduate education major's curriculum, academic standing, student teaching experience,…

AN INTENSIVE STUDY OF THE AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL WAS MADE TO SURVEY AVAILABLE TALENT, IDENTIFY INTERESTS, APTITUDES, AND BACKGROUND FACTORS, DETERMINE EFFECTS OF LACK OF INTEREST AND MOTIVATION, IDENTIFY FACTORS AFFECTING VOCATIONAL CHOICE, IDENTIFY PREDICTORS OF CREATIVITY AND PRODUCTIVITY, DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF…

THE AMERICAN OPTICAL (AO) COMPANY'S SIGHT SCREENER, A PORTABLE BINOCULAR INSTRUMENT DESIGNED FOR MASS VISION TESTING, WAS EVALUATED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND READING AND STUDY SKILLS LABORATORY TO DETERMINE ITS CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS NEEDING PROFESSIONAL EYE EXAMINATIONS PRIOR TO READING INSTRUCTION. DATA FROM 106 PROBATIONARY FRESHMEN,…

A process called focused holistic scoring has been developed for use in the Texas Assessment of Basic Skills to assess student performance on writing samples. This process is "holistic" because it evaluates a total piece of writing, and it is "focused" because it evaluates the writing in terms of two specific objectives…

One of 33 self-paced industry services leadership development (ISLD) modules, this module contains three sequential learning activities on developing a plan for testing and counseling applicants for an industry services training program. (The type of industry services program for which these materials were designed would involve provision of job…

THIS MANUAL DESCRIBES MEASURES USED IN "THE COGNITIVE ENVIRONMENTS OF URBAN PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN" PROJECT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. THE SAMPLE FOR THE STUDY CONSISTED OF 163 NEGRO MOTHER-CHILD PAIRS SELECTED FROM 3 SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES BASED ON THE FATHER'S OCCUPATION AND THE PARENTS' EDUCATION. A FOURTH GROUP INCLUDED FATHER-ABSENT…

TWO FORMS OF PAPER AND PENCIL ACHIEVEMENT TESTS WERE ASSEMBLED IN FOUR AND ONE FORM WAS ASSEMBLED IN THE OTHER OF THE FIVE TRADE CURRICULUM AREAS IN WHICH THE PROJECT IS DEVELOPING ACHIEVEMENT MEASURES. DESIGN AND PRODUCTION OF 10 OF THE 12 MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE FOR THE FIVE AREAS WERE COMPLETED. NINE HOURS OF TESTING TIME WERE REQUESTED OF THE…