Scholastic and personal characteristics of students undertaking exit competency examinations are investigated. Research questions concerned: what the tests measure, whether the tests provide unique information or are duplicating other easily obtained measures, whether it is possible to increase the probability of student success by controlling…

A computerized flexilevel test was implemented and its ability estimates were compared with those of a Bayesian estimation based computerized adaptive test (CAT) as well as with known true ability estimates. Results showed that when the flexilevel test was terminated according to Lord's criterion, its ability estimates were highly and…

The study reported in this paper examined whether a disproportionate number of boys and girls in a given grade level at various schools might have an inequitable effect on the mean achievement test scores of those schools. The student population of the Palm Beach County Schools, Florida, reflecting a cross-section of socio-economic backgrounds,…

The focus of this study is on the estimation procedures implemented in BILOG, a computer program. One purpose is to compare the item parameter estimates produced by various procedures available in BILOG. Four different models are used: the one, two, and three parameter model and a three parameter model with common guessing parameters. The results…

Compliance with South Carolina's Basic Skills Assessment Program (BSAP), involving test administration and instructional monitoring, was on schedule for the 1983-84 school year. Results of readiness tests given to over 50,000 first graders showed 72.6% "ready" to begin formal instruction. Teachers were given materials for areas in which…

Vocational teachers have a vital interest in students' developing competence in basic academic skills. They are aware that the teaching of basic skills must be a team effort between basic skills teachers and teachers of subject matter areas. Three basic academic skills that are taught in vocational classes are reading, writing, and mathematics.…

This collection of essays focuses on the "strategic teaching" model of cognitive instruction, a model which makes clear the complex thinking process that teaching is, highlights the importance of the teaching/learning connection, and aims at enabling all types of students to become successful learners. The papers consider the varied levels at…

This study examined family beliefs and motivation as sources for the superior performance on mathematics tests by Chinese students compared with Caucasian students in the United States. Beliefs about children's performance were examined in mothers and their sixth grade children in the People's Republic of China and in Chinese-American and…

This guide for teachers identifies sources of basic skills instructional print materials available for use with secondary-level vocational students. It is part of BASICS, a package of integrated materials developed to assist teachers, administrators, and counselors in bridging vocational and academic skills. It has four major chapters. The…

This publication contains two miniunits to help students in grades 7-12 build skills for the future. The exercises can also be adapted for use in grades 4-6. Each of the miniunits contains several exercises to build specific skills. Miniunit One, "The Arithmetic of Growth," deals with two concepts--exponential growth and doubling time. These two…

This report describes the Bilingual Pupil Services project (B.P.S.) which provided basic instruction in English reading, Spanish reading, and mathematics to Spanish-speaking students of limited English proficiency in New York City community schools. Also presented are the results of program evaluation for 1980-81. The report outlines the project…

These two volumes report a pilot study that examined the job-related literacy and numeracy demands made on school leavers who entered selected apprenticeships. Volume I presents narrative materials. Detailed descriptions of literacy and numeracy demands are provided for 10 trades: electrical-fitter-mechanical, fitter-turner-machinist, fitter…

This document is part of the Management for Effective Teaching (MET) support kit, a pilot project designed by the Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools to assist elementary school teachers in planning, managing, and implementing the county's Program of Studies (POS). The purpose of this part of the MET kit is to enable teachers to match…

A summary of 1981-82 Title I funded educational projects carried out in the State of Georgia is provided in this annual report. Data in the report are based on a reporting sample of one-third of the State's participating school districts, and lead to the following information. (1) More than 57,000 Georgia school children participated in regular…

The effect on children's test scores of different item formats used in standardized mathematics achievement tests was investigated. In a Utah school, 40 second grade students completed a mathematics computation test using eight different formats derived from five standardized achievement tests. Identical content, taken from the most frequently…