The Massachusetts Basic Skills Testing Program, mandated by Chapter 188 of the Acts of 1985, seeks to identify students who have not mastered basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. Because the Massachusetts Department of Education does not mandate any post-test action, it has not been possible to prescribe any method of providing help…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) focuses on providing information on what demographic subgroups of America's students know and can do. Because the NAEP does not report for individual students, it could be classified by some students as a low-risk test. Consequently, some students may lack proper motivation for giving their…

The proceedings of a two and one-half day symposium concerning the assessment of functional language ability through the oral interview process included the following papers: "The FSI/ILR/ACTFL Proficiency Scales and Testing Techniques: Development, Current Status, and Need Research" (John L. D. Clark, Ray T. Clifford); "The ACTFL…

The Stability of Self Scale has been used to infer the stability of self-concept from responses collected on a single occasion. Using the large, nationally representative Youth in Transition data for 10th grade boys in public high schools in 1966, Stability of Self responses were related to the variability in self-esteem responses collected in 4…

This report presents the results of the third national survey of state activities in the assessment of educational outcomes for students with disabilities. The report does not contain actual outcomes data on students with disabilities. Twenty-three tables present data on: number of students in general education and special education in each state;…

The collaborative curriculum development process in a postsecondary language education program in Japan is described, looking specifically at the work of five curriculum development teams, or focus groups: needs assessment; curriculum aims, goals, and objectives; cognitive development and learner strategies; materials development; and learner…

This presentation outlines, in operational terms, the components and products of a longitudinal evaluation model for teacher education programs, and discusses an approach to program evaluation that embodies activities within three taxonomical phases referred to as formative, summative, and confirmative evaluation. When applied to competency-based…

In 1986, the Utah State Board of Education approved a policy of subject specific certification for all secondary and most middle level teachers in the expectation they will hold an endorsement in any subject they are assigned to teach. To assure quality teaching and at the same time provide for a variety of certification options, the Board…

Johnson County Community College, in Kansas, recently implemented a unique laboratory combining interactive video, computers, and peer tutors to support its speech communication, foreign language, and interpreter training departments. The facility is equipped with 15 interactive, video-based work stations, costing $3,930 each; four computer…

The language arts department of an Arizona high school serving American Indian students developed a locally normed writing assessment to comply with a state mandate for the identification of limited English proficient (LEP) students. The members of the language arts department decided on a direct assessment of writing in which the student would…

This study continues prior efforts that were reported by the same authors to examine teacher perceptions of teacher assessment programs for a fourth year, one year after the initial statewide implementation and subsequent suspension by the state legislature, of the teacher assessment and evaluation program in Louisiana. The state initiated,…

Compiled to assist advisors at Vincennes University (VU), a two-year college in Indiana, as well as high school counselors and prospective students, this book provides information on placement at VU and entry-level skills needed for success in specific programs, majors, or courses. A brief introduction describes the objectives of the skills guide…

A genuine concern for the condition of education in the United States has led to misuse of standardized tests to measure teacher quality. The tests have been used for purposes of admission, advancement, merit, graduation, and certification contrary to research findings and test developer guidelines. The current use of tests has resulted in…

In April 1989, the Women's Program Forum of the Ford Foundation sponsored a seminar that examined the current debates and future directions surrounding the issue of gender bias in testing, with particular attention to the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). This booklet provides a transcript of the proceedings of the forum. P. Rosser's presentation of…

The impact of test item multidimensionality was examined as it affected fitting items on a teacher licensure test to an item response theory (IRT) model. Test item data from the 1990 study of G. W. Guiton and G. Delandshere are used. The Connecticut Elementary Certification Test (CONNECT) is a licensure examination designed to assess the subject…