The primary purpose of testing in early childhood is to identify children who may be at risk for learning problems so they may be placed in appropriate educational environments. Testing is popular because educators take at face value the claim by test developers that using standardized test instruments to classify, retain, or promote children is…

A research project examined the current needs of and potential services for visible minority students within Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). The examination focused on three main questions: accuracy of the present definition of visible minorities, barriers experienced by visible minority students in six areas, and…

Teachers are evaluated daily by their students. By examining students' criteria for teacher evaluation, teachers are able to broaden their existing base of understanding and develop a greater perception of the complex dynamics of the classroom. This study was conducted to evaluate students' comments regarding "good" teachers to determine whether…

This document presents the Guam Adult Education Quality Performance Indicators to enable Guam Community College to promote program improvements in the adult education programs it offers to Guam's educationally disadvantaged adult learners. Definitions are provided of these terms: quality performance indicator, performance measure, and performance…

Washington State's model curriculum for competency-based adult education in English as a Second Language prescribes educational and performance objectives for two levels of instruction and offers suggestions for instructional activities and student assessment. The curriculum is based on core competencies in five areas: listening/observing;…

This framework emphasizes health literacy for students, i.e., development of the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed for healthy living. The framework defines four unifying ideas of health literacy that serve as central themes for all content areas and grade levels: (1) acceptance of personal responsibility for lifelong health; (2) respect for…

This study evaluated the effect of two different supervisory conferencing strategies on preservice teachers' reflective practices. Two questions guided the investigation: (1) "what effect does type of supervisory dialogue have on preservice teachers' reflective practices?" and (2) "what effect do different post-lesson tasks have on…

This booklet offers Canadian parents guidance on finding high-quality child care. The booklet begins by defining quality child care, indicating that child care should support a child's emotional, social, intellectual well-being and that child caregivers are the key to quality child care. The characteristics of quality child care settings are also…

This paper presents the results of a series of summary analyses of descriptive statistics concerning 5,720 Louisiana teachers who were assessed with the System for Teaching and Learning Assessment and Review (STAR)--a comprehensive on-the-job statewide teacher assessment system--during the second pilot year (1989-90). Data were collected by about…

An evaluation of Manitoba's French immersion programs at the levels of grades 3, 6, and 9 focused on program effectiveness in teaching listening comprehension and speech skills. The results for grade 9 are presented here. The first section describes the framework of the immersion curriculum and the listening and oral skills targeted in it. The…

The Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST) attempts to advance the understanding of educational quality by research and development on the design, implementation, analysis, and use of assessment information. CRESST's research programs are directed at five major goals: (1) provide leadership to improve assessment…

Recognizing the principal's role as the single most important factor in determining school effectiveness in the crucial early years of children's education, this document discusses four prerequisites for success as a school leader and thoroughly outlines elements of proficiency in the principalship. Specific leadership capabilities and…

A collection of essays and research reports addresses issues in the testing of English as a Second Language (ESL) among foreign students in United States colleges and universities. They include the following: "Overview of ESL Testing" (Ralph Pat Barrett); "English Language Testing: The View from the Admissions Office" (G. James…

Strategies for teacher selection, recruitment, and retention are summarized in this report, which is based on results of a national survey of trends, practices, and opinions of school administrators. Thirteen chapters are contained in three sections, which deal specifically with the teacher selection, recruitment, and retention processes. The…

This practicum was designed to establish behavioral and assessment criteria for dealing with seriously emotionally disturbed elementary students enrolled in self-contained emotionally handicapped (EH) units. A primary goal was to provide out-of-field EH teachers with an objective tool for continuously assessing students' individual behavioral and…