Reviews the state of the art in performance measures and assessment processes in program evaluation before the passage of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), and discusses difficulties in fitting these practices into the GPRA format. Presents a simple logic model for evaluating research programs. (SLD)

Examined the extent of implementation of the 1995-00 United Federation of Teachers-New York City contract agreement on annual teacher performance reviews, identifying factors impacting implementation. Survey and interview data indicate that few schools are implementing the performance review option, mainly due to lack of adequate training. Lack of…

Explored the claim that performance assessments foster a more positive motivational orientation for students than supplied-response assessments when used in the classroom. Fifth graders in three science classrooms were exposed to three types of assessment. Surveys investigated students' attitudes toward science, goal orientation, and cognitive…

Describes the Geographic Information System (GIS) which is capable of storing, manipulating, and displaying data allowing students to explore complex relationships through scientific inquiry. Explains applications of GIS in middle school classrooms and includes assessment strategies. (YDS)

Description of a management strategy for assessing performance goals called Job Task Systems Management (JTSM) focuses on a study of inspector jobs at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The adaptation of business planning strategies to the government sector is discussed, and a job and task analysis is described. (LRW)

Explores the emerging interface between computer technology and cognitive psychology for performance assessment in science education. Discussion includes interface theories and interface technologies and prototype projects for building an alternative assessment technology. (50 references) (KRN)

This article briefly describes research and authentic assessment and outlines methods for developing rubrics which offer a more authentic approach to assessment. It offers a rubric for assessing secondary students' original research, along with benchmarks showing examples for each criterion. It also suggests ways to translate rubric assessments…

Over 5,000 students participated in a study of the dimensionality and stability of the item parameter estimates of a mathematics performance assessment developed for the Quantitative Understanding: Amplifying Student Achievement and Reasoning (QUASAR) Project. Results demonstrate the test's dimensionality and illustrate ways to examine use of the…

Reviews recent trends in performance testing, focusing on different definitions of performance testing; the extent to which performance tests have drawn upon the theoretical discussions of competence and performance; research on performance tests; and future developmental and research questions. (66 references) (MDM)

Argues that performance-based assessment can be a means of integrating the principle of equity into a reconceptualization of assessment, in which all children are expected to achieve levels of excellence and afforded the opportunities and environment to do so. (SR)

Belief systems underlying assessment practices have thwarted curriculum reform efforts by promoting a narrow curriculum focus and emphasizing memorization and rote application. Authentic assessment in conjunction with standardized testing may more comprehensively evaluate student performance. Many educators' belief systems may be incompatible with…

The International High School uses various assessment methods for its multilingual population: embedded, summative, standards setting, and assessment in other languages. Because language plays a central role in assessment, students use both English and their native languages in all phases of learning and assessment. (SK)

Performance-based assessment is recommended for gifted students. In this approach, the students participate in planning the assessment and establishing the criteria by which their work is judged. Guidelines for implementing performance-based assessment and classroom examples are offered. (DB)

Issues related to the performance appraisal of school library and media specialists are discussed. Performance appraisal is an essential part of the management job, but supervisors of library or media specialists must integrate proven concepts into their own evaluation models to avoid the narrow focuses of the past. (SLD)

"Performance assessment" is a broad term covering many types of testing methods that requires students to demonstrate their competencies or knowledge by creating an answer or a product. Seven common forms of performance assessment are constructed-response items, writing, essay responses, oral discourse, exhibitions, experiments, and portfolios.…