This report offers details of the results of basic skills testing of the entering freshman class in New Jersey's public colleges. Levels of proficiency in verbal skills, computation, and elementary algebra are estimated from performance on the New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test. For the 48,791 students tested in the fall of 1989, 24%…

The effects of "bona fide" homogeneous grouping of students in grades 4 through 8 in a southeastern school system on the students' subsequent academic achievement were studied. These effects were studied for black students as well as for all students regardless of race, across 2 years. The student population was composed of over 4,800…

This monograph addresses issues and problems related to identification of and programming for gifted/talented children of preschool, kindergarten, and primary age. Barriers to early identification and programming are identified. A rationale for early identification and programming is presented, followed by administrative options including…

This annotated bibliography contains 44 references, dated from 1976 to 1989, intended for educators concerned with assessment of basic speaking and listening skills, with particular emphasis on minimal competency testing and basic skills improvement programs. The materials cited do the following: (1) assess broad assessment issues; (2) review a…

First grade students (38) viewed a theater production on the theme of friendship in a study designed to determine the degree of the students' dramatic literacy. General objectives of the study were to: (1) compare children's learning from live theater with their learning from television; (2) describe what children knew about the play they saw and…

On the premise that it is important to examine parental attitudes as children enter the middle grades since it is at this point that decision shaping students' subsequent course taking patterns are made, this study examined the degree to which parents were involved in the assignment of their children to mathematics courses in the seventh grade.…

This report synthesizes the findings of seven studies of instructional services provided in the State of Washington to at-risk students and describes the current state of the art in the education of those special needs children. The report answers the following five questions: (1) Who are the special needs children in Washington's schools? (2)…

The shortcomings of the conventional way of using and interpreting multiple-choice tests are summarized. Some theories and methodologies that can be applied for better use multiple-choice test items are described. Empirical facts are introduced to support the theoretical observations. New strategies are proposed that will reduce "noise"…

The Measure of Academic Talent (MAT) is a standardized measure of academic development that controls for socioeconomic status-related background characteristics (e.g., income, language in the home, etc.) for different race and sex groups. In this study, the MAT was derived from American College Testing (ACT) program assessment data, using a sample…

Academic testing observed in a year-long study of kindergarten classes in 15 districts was primarily concerned with whether children were succeeding with the content of a basal reader readiness workbook that essentially dealt with phonics. Such success was viewed as a prerequisite for the first preprimer in the basal series, the use of which…

A meta-analysis of studies that have explored the effect of financial aid to undergraduates on persistence was undertaken. In addition to identifying such studies, research objectives were: to determine the magnitude of the effect of financial aid on student persistence in each study; and to compare the financial aid effect sizes in relation to…

Recent developments in science and technology challenge educators to develop career education approaches that promote interest in scientific and technological career options among students. One way to meet this challenge is for educators to understand variables that may influence the career development of students with focused or developed…

A collection of four years worth of data analyzing reading discrepancies for the Cleveland (Ohio) Public Schools is contained in this report, the fourth in a series addressing this issue. An introduction notes that data were gathered to determine the nature and extent of disparities in the reading test scores of elementary and secondary school…

This report explores an approach to item development and psychometric modeling which explicitly incorporates knowledge about the mental models used by examinees in the solution of items into a psychometric model that characterize performances on a test, as well as incorporating that knowledge into the item development process. The paper focuses on…

This manual, which provides extensive new instructions for administering the Functional Assessment Inventory (FAI), is intended to enable counselors to begin using the inventory without undergoing any special training. The first two sections deal with the need for functional assessment and issues in the development and use of the inventory. The…