Studied differences in the types of errors made by students with disabilities on a multiple choice reading test administered under oral reading accommodations. Findings for 2,999 high school students suggest that it is safe to adhere the same meaning to test scores for disability groups even when the test is administered under different…

Argues that teachers should look at standardized tests first before designing tests that will evaluate students' critical thinking and reading. Describes five standardized tests appropriate for use with college students and adults. (RS)

Discusses several new educational assessment procedures implemented in Illinois and Michigan school districts. (MM)

All educators must possess knowledge of student assessment practices. This article outlines basic testing concepts and test construction and usage skills for teachers and administrators. Includes nine references. (MLH)

A new breed of standardized reading tests, slated for use in Michigan and Illinois, measures integrative thinking instead of isolated skills and gives teachers a valuable diagnostic tool. A breakdown of content areas is given, as well as a preview of actual questions. (IAH)

A study involving 105 undergraduates assessed the value of testing as a means of increasing, rather than simply monitoring, learning. Results indicate that fill-in-the-blank and items requiring student inferences were more effective, respectively, than multiple-choice tests and verbatim items in furthering student learning. (TJH)

Refutes Leslie MacLean and Harvey Goldstein's charges (in the January 1988 "Kappan") that the National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Proficiency Scale is based on a single assumption (reading proficiency) accounting for responses to all reading tasks. Characterizes the scale as developmental, with points corresponding to…

Rebuffs Leslie Maclean and Harvey Goldstein's claims that the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading Proficiency Scale is unidimensional. Critics' confusion may stem from failing to separate what a test measures from a score's usefulness. The Lexile Reading Scale should be integrated with the NAEP scale. Includes eight…

The Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) has developed both formal and informal reading assessments reflecting current reading theory. A test development committee created a MEAP blueprint of four elements: constructing meaning, knowledge about reading, attitudes and self-perceptions, and topic familiarity. Includes two references. (MLH)

Describes and evaluates the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests--Revised (1987), discussing test administration, scoring, technical data, validity, and reliability. Concludes that this test is a reliable instrument for measuring some aspects of the reading process, but recommends its use in conjunction with more theoretically valid holistic-oriented…

Suggests that both portfolio and performance-based assessment can be implemented in ways that retain vestiges of standardized testing. Compares aspects of standardized testing to aspects of portfolio and performance-based evaluation. Discusses responsibility to those assessed. (RS)

Provides a rationale for why literacy assessment is in need of improvement. Presents guidelines for improving literacy assessment. Describes a model for implementing changes in literacy assessment. (MG)

Reading instruction can be transformed into cynical test-beating exercises. Victory arises from frequent practice in taking similar tests. Students who spend most of their time on test-type activities generally do better on reading tests than those who "waste" time reading for information or pleasure. Teachers whose students score highest on…

Multi-level hierarchical linear modeling was used to compare growth curves for children receiving instruction aimed at single orthographic-phonological connections. Growth rate on phonics probes was significantly faster for the group receiving multiple-connections treatment. Urges school psychologists to recommend multiple strategies for helping…