To date, little work has been done to ensure limited English proficient (LEP) students are accurately assessed on a large scale. The purpose of this guide is to help scorers in high volume situations to be able to effectively evaluate the open-ended responses of this population. Section one of this guide presents a brief overview of the State…

Practices identified by experts as critical variables in eliciting writing samples were checked against 12 randomly selected studies using holistic ratings to derive descriptions of inferential statistical results for described samples. The studies often lacked precise information about these variables, limiting understanding of writing evaluation…

This paper explores standardized English curriculum practice in a globalizing world. It uses one particular site of formative/summative assessment to show how colonial and modernist trajectories are carried in these times. The argument is that an ethical evaluative practice would allow for local hybridizations. To represent and theorize from a…

In this paper the design of a workflow support tool for competence based distance learning in a group setting is discussed. The design is based on a stakeholder analysis and crash-tested in an actual course setting. Preliminary findings suggest that some well-known problems have been solved, but further more in depth research is needed to assess…

The report examines the Hawaii Department of Education's procedures and criteria in the identification and evaluation of handicapped children, as well as difficulties encountered in recruiting and maintaining qualified special services evaluation personnel. An introductory chapter notes the legislative authority for the study; provisions of Public…

Five regional training institutes were held in the spring of 1972 to develop a cadre to teach the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration curriculum package, "Basic Training Program for Breath Examiner Specialist." Emphasis of the institutes was on the development of teaching skills, rather than breath testing skills. Enrollees…

For Blacks and Hispanics, standardized admission tests and licensing exams are barriers to schools and occupations. Case studies are presented of college admission tests and teacher testing that place women and minorities at a disadvantage. Test biases and misuse must be eliminated and new forms of evaluation must be developed. (VM)

For several years, states have listed accommodations allowed on state assessments. States soon found that the definitions of these accommodations varied not only across states, but also within states and even in schools. Over the past few years, states have made greater attempts to define each accommodation and to decide whether the accommodation…

This paper aims to provide practical advice for creating a placement test for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) or English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) instruction. Three forms of concrete assistance are provided: a detailed literature review; detailed steps focusing on the creation of placement tests; and a set of recommendations focusing on…

This guide is intended to help teachers administer tests to adult students so that the students achieve the highest possible test results. The booklet is divided into five sections. The first section reminds the teacher of the various differences in and needs of the adult learner, while the second section gives some tips on how to conduct a…

In a speech on minimum competency testing, the author discusses four issues which are still unresolved. The first is the need to recognize the political overtones which gave impetus to the competency movement as a reaction against the perceived failures of the schools and teacher education institutions, rather than as a concern for student…

This is a selected compilation of 47 items relating to criticisms of tests and testing. The items cover the period of ten years immediately preceding the year 1966 and are held to be scholarly writings almost without exception. The books and articles listed carry extensive annotations and focus on the following aspects of tests and testing:…

The first National Assessment of Music, conducted in 1971-72, measured the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of 9 year olds, 13 year olds, 17 year olds, and young adults, resulting in estimates of proportions of people in the population who have certain attitudes toward music, knowledge about music terminology, notaion and history, and musical…

This is the final report describing a supervised program of self-instruction in critical languages at the undergraduate level. The project was begun at a single college in 1963, was expanded to a statewide basis in 1966, and was again enlarged to run on a national basis in 1969. In 1971-72, over 1,000 students were enrolled in these programs at…

In developing countries, for the most part, traditional methods of selecting students for secondary schools, technical and vocational institutions, teacher training colleges, and universities are unable to ensure that the most capable applicants receive the limited opportunities available. To remedy this situation, the author has assembled and…