The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) and an expressive language measure were administered to 114 children (aged 24 to 74 months) suspected of developmental difficulties. The DDST did not identify the majority of children who failed the expressive language screening, even after cutoff scores were made more rigorous. (Author/JDD)

A demonstration project of child search and screening activities analyzed referral rates and patterns for young gifted children in Louisiana and evaluated a modified case study approach for screening referrals. However, the demographic data for the referred group of 96 children did not match local demographic patterns. Blacks and rural children…

Using cognitive test data to simulate employment selection tests, data from 1,427 Northern Ireland students showed better science curriculum offerings in Protestant schools and differences in science provision for boys and girls. Poor science instruction adversely affects the range of career choices, especially for Catholic girls. (SK)

The concurrent validity of 2 brief intelligence tests, the Matrix Analogies Test-Short Form (MAT) and the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) using a sample of 50 urban students. The MAT and K-BIT appeared equally useful as screening tests. (SLD)

The City University of New York's Lehman College requires entering transfer students to demonstrate writing proficiency for appropriate placement. Academic advising is used to help students understand the need for this assessment. The relatively complex system has been found to save students' time, promote academic achievement, and improve…

Analysis of the Bracken Basic Concept Scale (BBCS) indicated that all subtests except two (Quantity and Time) showed statistically significant correlations between item difficulty and frequency of concept words. Administration of the BBCS to 36 first graders revealed that most concept words showed expected item discrimination indices. (Author/JDD)

The Miller Assessment for Preschoolers, intended for children ages 2-5, is designed as both a screening and a diagnostic assessment, measuring neuromaturational variables, coordination, language, memory, problem solving, and visual perception. This review examines test administration, summation of data, standardization, reliability, and validity,…

This study, involving 70 intermediate grade students, found that scores on the Matrix Analogies Test-Short Form (MAT-SF) were significantly lower than all of the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) composite scores. The MAT-SF correlated significantly with all areas of the CTBS composite and spelling scores. (Author/JDD)

Found nontraditional assessment tools to be good predictors of current reading instruction group for nonhandicapped and mildly handicapped children. Iowa Tests of Basic Skills reading scores, curriculum-based measurement reading probes, and teachers' rating scale were able to stratify large sample of elementary school children into Chapter 1,…

Comments on Walker's article in this issue. Argues that Walker's study demonstrates the reliability of the Gesell Developmental Assessment (GDA) but leaves unresolved several key questions about the GDA's validity. (GLR)

This article provides an overview of procedures commonly used in prenatal screening and diagnosis including ultrasound, amniocentesis, chorionic villus biopsy, maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis. Emphasis is on the role of the early interventionist in supporting families during prenatal diagnosis. (Author/DB)

This review of the Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary Students (SAGES) and the Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary Students-Primary (SAGES-P) looks at test content, utility, and technical considerations. The tests are commended for their provision of gifted norms. Some reservations about the tests' validity and reliability data are…

Critiques two 1992 "Economics of Education" articles using the "P" test to probe the screening hypothesis by comparing educational rates of return in private and public sectors. This method ignores two important phenomena--ability bias and selectivity bias. The outcome of the "P" test might change if a richer data set…

The elementary version of the Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders measure was modified for use with an urban preschool Head Start population (n=90). A preschool adaptation of this measure could allow significantly earlier identification of children with potential severe behavior disorders. Approximately 5% of the children were identified…

Discusses drug testing for park law enforcement officers, presenting drug screening guidelines for park managers. The article examines how to establish programs, whether to screen, legal aspects, and implications of the Handicap Act (which makes it difficult to dismiss employees claiming the handicap of substance abuse without providing…