In order to determine whether the success of the Personalized System of Instruction is due to the unit testing procedure or the study questions prior to examinations, this study compares student achievement on course examinations after required unit testing, optional unit testing, and absence of testing. (Author/RK)

For a long time, independent schools have relied primarily upon peer-review accreditation for the purpose of accountability. Akin to the process used by colleges and universities, libraries and hospitals, school accreditation via a reputable accrediting organization is thorough, rigorous, and professional. It is rooted in two underlying…

This book presents the views of teachers, teacher educators, and administrators who write about accountability, testing, and standards programs. The chapters are: (1) "From Policy to Practice: The Research" (Allan A. Glatthorn); (2) "New York's Test-Driven Standards" (Jean Fontana); (3) "Voices from a Native American…

At a community college in Hawaii, two separate validation processes were carried out in order to install a new student placement test, each serving a different purpose at different times in the installation process. Decision Theory was used to arrive at a decision tool to allow for compromises between accuracy and enrollment management. The…

Instructional assessment is a systematic approach to solving student academic, behavioral, and social-emotional problems by identifying the key factors that have created or are encouraging the problem. The instructional support team (IST) process emphasizes assistance to students. Assessment in IST consists of ongoing analysis of student…

This digest presents 11 basic principles to guide the assessment training and professional development of teachers and administrators. These are: (1) assessment is inherently a process of professional judgment; (2) assessment is based on separate but related principles of measurement evidence and evaluation; (3) assessment decision-making is…

The results of the June 2000 CLAST administration are reported in this information capsule. Results are reported for first-time examinees, retake examinees, and students earning alternatives to the CLAST requirement. During this administration period, 3,858 Miami-Dade Community College (M-DCC) (Florida) students earned an alternative in at least…

Two trends have converged during the past three decades to change the face of public school education in America. First, achievement testing has been greatly expanded in terms of both the quantity of tests available and the number of uses for the information collected from testing. Second, there has been a significant increase in the development…

This digest presents seven strategies that an assessment director may use to improve test administration practices. These strategies highlight clear communication, the responsibility of the Building Test Coordinator, and rewarding and reinforcing quality. The strategies are: (1) focusing on communication; (2) designating a building test…

The logistic positive exponent family (LPEF) of models has been proposed by F. Samejima (1998) for dichotomous responses. This family of models is characterized by point-asymmetric item characteristic curves (ICCs). This paper introduces the LPEF family, and discusses its usefulness in educational measurement and the implications of its use.…

The standards outlined in this book have been developed to provide criteria for the evaluation of tests, testing practices, and the effects of test use. The "Standards" provides a frame of reference to ensure that relevant issues are addressed. The first part of the book, "Test Construction, Evaluation, and Documentation,"…

Knowing and having just learned are not exactly the same thing. Neither is the fact that a student can think necessarily evidence that he has been taught. This provocative study raises more questions than it answers. (Editor)

Some examples of how students read test items are presented. The results of interviews with students who have taken a multiple-choice test indicate that they do not always solve problems on the test the way we think they do. (JP)

A brief survey of the mathematics involved in the theory of educational testing. (MM)

Presents individual student testing profiles to provide meaningful graphic presentations of standardized test results. (Author/RK)