English language learners (ELLs) constitute one of the fastest growing subpopulations of students in the United States. It is important to determine whether the assessments used by states in determining students' proficiencies are valid and fair for ELLs. This study focused on several standards-based assessments in mathematics and science…

Research in the field of attribution theory and academic achievement suggests a relationship between a student's attributional style and achievement. Theorists and researchers contend that attributions influence individual reactions to success and failure. They also report that individuals use attributions to explain and justify their performance.…

The quantitative study was a comparison of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students' assessment outcomes when taught by a teacher with specialized training and when taught by teachers with no specialized training. The comparison of 2007-2008 Northern Nevada LEP third grade student scores in the content areas of English language arts and…

In this publication, the authors compare the salaries of primary (Grades 1 to 6 in most countries) and secondary school (usually Grades 7 to 12) teachers with the salaries of people in mathematics-oriented professions, such as engineering, scientific fields, and accounting. Their analysis centers on a number of developed and developing countries.…

We use detailed data from New York City to estimate how the characteristics of school principals relate to school performance, as measured by students' standardized exam scores and other outcomes. We find little evidence of any relationship between school performance and principal education and pre-principal work experience, although we do find…

The current study explored differences in test anxiety on high-stakes standardized achievement testing and classroom testing among elementary school children. This is the first study to directly examine differences in student test anxiety across two testing conditions with different stakes among young children. Three hundred and thirty-five…

This report summarizes Austin Independent School District's prekindergarten student data from 2001-2002 (half-day and full-day programs) and 2007-2008 (full-day program only), including student demographics, academic performance, and attendance.

This paper describes a quantitative assessment project, its findings, and its impact. College mathematics faculty developed an item bank of problems covering material from undergraduate mathematics courses and basic statistics. Instructors use this item bank to develop a questionnaire involving the specific quantitative skills their students need…

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is using a novel assessment process to find whether rising juniors have the quantitative skills needed for success in their chosen upper-division courses. Sampling from departments across the campus, information is gathered about quantitative skills used in specific courses and the extent to which students can…

This bibliography lists the holdings of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's Test Center in the area of assessment alternatives in mathematics. Annotations describe the instruments or articles and indicate availability. Each entry is coded according to type, purpose, grade levels, content covered, type of tasks, skills assessed, and…

Kernel equating (KE) is a new approach to observed-score equating and is described in detail in von Davier, Holland, and Thayer (2004b). Over the past months, several evaluation studies of KE have been designed and carried out. In this part of the overall evaluation study, we compared the KE method with other equating methods using real data from…

Elementary school mathematics curricula are being developed that are designed to use calculators. As the calculator-integrated curricula are developed, tests must be developed that involve the use of calculators. Some examples of how achievement tests using calculators would be different are considered. (RH)

GED "Scoreboost" materials target exactly the skills one needs to pass the General Educational Development (GED) tests. This book focuses on the Mathematics test, with material to help develop the skills needed for whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percents. The workbook presents 16 strategies for skill development: (1) use a…

The Educational Testing Service studied the status of calculator use in high school classrooms. Responses were received from 4,568 high schools. Thirty-eight percent of those who were mailed a survey participated, and 12% of those who received e-mail invitations responded. Results indicate that the prevailing policy in U.S. high schools is to…

Suggests ways to analyze and modify typical classroom tests that are objective, easy to implement, and in accordance with the types of changes and recommendations being discussed to improve assessment. Sections include Criteria for Analyzing Classroom Tests; Modifying Test Items; Needed Steps; Cautions; and Conclusions. Uses actual classroom test…