The volumes in this User Manual document the data collection of the 1993-94 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). Researchers who are ready to access the data file may go directly to the codebooks for each survey (Volumes II and III for the Restricted-Use and Public-Use versions respectively). This manual focuses on survey documentation, describing…

This publication compiles a comprehensive set of educational indicators using data from a variety of sources and presents results of interest to a U.S. audience about education in the United States and other countries. International indicators provide the United States with an opportunity to compare its performance with that of other countries, to…

Because the primary years are the point where specific changes are required in teaching practice and school organization, a task force examined Kentucky's primary program through school visits, interviews, expert testimony, and research. The last three years have shown marked improvement in student performance in the basics (reading, writing, and…

A study used two approaches to assess new college graduates' attitudes and perceptions about federal employment. The federal government's image and competitive posture among new graduates were discussed with placement officials at 13 colleges and universities. A questionnaire survey was administered to individuals who graduated during the 1991-92…

The Natural Math project was undertaken to encourage parents of Native American and Black preschool and kindergarten children to engage in math activities and games at home. Natural Math also attempted to integrate Seminole culture into math materials. The project originally included only Seminole preschool and kindergarten children. Later, Boley…

Change over time in the cross-achievement level regard of seventh-grade students for teammates in small heterogeneous cooperative learning groups was studied for 184 middle school students (55 percent Hispanic Americans, 27 percent Whites, 14 percent Blacks, and 3 percent Asian Americans) in Los Angeles County (California). Student perceptions…

These three newsletter issues describe what pilot sites sponsored by the State Vocational Education Consortium are doing to improve the academic competencies for general and vocational students. The first issue summarizes the activities occurring in pilot sites, including establishing higher expectations for general and vocational students,…

Despite the number of studies investigating affective aspects of test taking, little is known about how students perceive the kinds of extended performance assessments currently being developed for state and local testing programs. This paper presents two studies that address these issues. In the first, hands-on science tasks were administered to…

Steps involved in the item analysis and scaling of the 1990 edition of Forms A and B of the Nevada High School Proficiency Examinations (NHSPEs) are described. Pilot tests of Forms A and B of the 47-item reading and 45-item mathematics tests were each administered to random samples of more than 600 eleventh-grade students. A computer program was…

This report examines the demographic and language characteristics and educational aspirations of Asian American and Hispanic American eighth graders and relates that information to their mathematical ability and reading comprehension as measured by an achievement test. Special attention is paid to students who come from homes in which a…

This paper contends that the climate or culture of academic science has been chilly to women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. The paper reviews research findings in three areas: (1) numbers of women participating in science education and careers; (2) evidence of precollege patterns for girls and women in science and math; and (3)…

A program to prepare refugee adolescents for secondary school experiences in the United States is described. The program, conducted in overseas refugee camps, began in 1985 as a complement to adult transitional programs. The daily program is designed to simulate the schedule and classroom procedures of a typical U.S. secondary school. Classes…

This publication is a distillation of the most salient, most often repeated observations and recommendations of Maryland teacher-test scorers on their experiences scoring student responses to the Maryland School Performance Assessment (MSPAP) test in 1994. Feedback is organized into perceptions about what would be pertinent to share with other…

This report presents the results and sample items of a reading test and a mathematics test administered to Year 5 and Year 7 primary level students in 1989 in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Primary Assessment Program (PAP) monitors achievement in English and Mathematics in urban schools. All students in Years 5 and 7 are tested in…

The Literacy for Employability (LitE) project was conducted from May 1, 1991 through January 31, 1993. The project was intended to upgrade the mathematics, writing, and problem-solving skills of employees at three Austin, Texas, companies: Hart Graphics, IBM, and Texas Instruments. At Hart and Texas, the program was mandatory; at IBM it was…