For the 1980 sophomore cohort from High School and Beyond, a strong relation was found between senior-year mathematics achievement test scores and the number of mathematics courses taken at the level of Algebra I and above. The relationship between science test scores and science courses taken was weaker. (Author/LMO)

This article calls attention to testing as an integral part of teaching mental computation. It begins with an overview of students' performance and is followed by some specific suggestions for testing mental computation skills in the classroom. (Author)

Understanding the consequences of growing up poor for a child's well-being is an important research question, but one that is difficult to answer due to the potential endogeneity of family income. Past estimates of the effect of family income on child development have often been plagued by omitted variable bias and measurement error. In this…

This study examined the alignment between the Golden State Exam (GSE) in High School Mathematics and the University of California (UC) Statement on Competencies in mathematics, exploring the technical quality of the alignment process. UC faculty and high school mathematics teachers (n=20) from Northern and Southern California rated the mathematics…

Current methods of combining multiple measures of student performance have been subjective and have lacked evidence of external validity. This study examined the use of predictive discriminant analysis (PDA) as a means of finding the best combination of variables to predict performance on a standards-based mathematics assessment. Data from 261…

This study, one of a series designed to answer practical questions about performance based assessment, examined the comparability of school scores on short, nonparallel test forms. The data were obtained from mathematics tests with both multiple choice (MC) and performance assessment (PA) items. The tests were administered in a statewide testing…

This document is an information resource for teachers based on the findings of the Assessment of Achievement Programme (AAP), a major research program funded by The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department. This book presents information about the 1994 AAP mathematics survey and contains sections with sample survey items on student…

The primary concern or focus of a certification or licensure test is to obtain valid criterion-referenced information regarding a candidate's competence to practice. When the test is administered by computer, a valid pass/fail decision can be made with fewer items than an equivalent paper/pencil test by targeting items at the passing score and…

This paper compares modified Guttman and item response theory (IRT) based procedures for classifying examinees in ordered levels when each level is represented by several multiple choice test items. In the modified Guttman procedure, within-level number correct scores are mapped to binary level mastery scores. Examinees are then assigned to levels…

Colleges and universities are using the ACT test as a tool to help decide which students are awarded scholarships, admitted into programs, and declared eligible to participate in athletics. The purpose of this study was to see if students could improve their ACT mathematics score during junior year. A comparison was made of 52 Ritchie County High…

This paper describes the approaches taken at a middle school to improve student problem solving ability and test results for the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) mathematics tests. The focus was on grade 6. In 1996, 35% of the 437 students in grade 6 did not master the mathematics problem solving skill. A committee of…

Reports on the results of the reform curriculum of the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project's elementary curriculum, Everyday Mathematics, for third-grade students. Results included the fact that only 2% of UCSMP students failed to meet state goals. UCSMP students also scored well in all mathematical areas including number skills and…

This article describes the activities of the Continental Mathematics League, which offers a series of meets for children in grades 3 though 9. In addition, a Calculus League and a Computer Contest are offered. The league allows schools to participate by mail so that rural schools can participate. (CR)

Explores whether the differences in use of terminology were related to respective fields or to idiosyncratic characteristics of experience and education. Reports differences among college teachers, high school teachers, and college students from a 16-item survey on algebraic and graphing terminology used in mathematics and science. (YP)

Discusses a teaching method for multiplication using manipulative materials. Provides examples of the teaching method and activities using individual chalk boards. Two references are listed. (YP)