The author assesses the contributions to educational planning of the National Assessment of Education Progress. He gives examples of the findings and asks questions as to how they can be utilized by school systems. (Editor) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Utilization).

This case study of the Austin Independent School District describes how the philosophy and staffing of a testing program can work together to produce effective results with highly efficient use of student time and minimal clerical burden on teaching staff. (Author)

In view of social processes, politics and the logistics of conducting evaluations, several implicit assumptions of the field challenged by findings on innovation implementation are reviewed. These studies have major implications for evaluation practice, evaluator roles, the use of evaluation results, and the federal role in evaluation. (Author/CM)

Evaluated college counseling center usage for students encouraged to return for feedback on freshmen tests. Students who initially approached the center to request feedback on tests were more likely to obtain counseling for nontest-related problems than students who never requested test results. More men requested feedback prior to requesting…

All children have intelligence in varying degrees in various abilities; Structure of Intellect (SOI) Institute tests diagnose those abilities successfully in gifted, deaf, retarded, aphasic and all ethnic groups. With a database of thousands of student test responses, materials are developed to prepare children for the future. (NEC)

Presents an evaluation of a 16+ Nuffield physics test. Lists topics covered on the test. Reviews student performance and indicates that the text discriminated at both ends of the ability range. (SK)

Describes the benefits derived by the University of Alabama at a time of declining enrollment from offering the Goethe Institute exam for the "Certificate in German as a Foreign Language." Also mentions other innovations introduced by the German department: an intensive first year course and a German House on campus. (MES)

Controversy over national testing programs for basic skills in Australia's elementary schools is discussed. The alternative suggested is to use those resources to improve local methods and skills in student assessment, depending more on the interest and abilities of those directly concerned with the students' learning. (MSE)

Reports on a statewide pilot project which compared testing using paper-and-pencil and Internet-delivered test items. Participants were students from 14 Pennsylvania vocational-technical institutions. Describes the structured use, what teachers should know and insight from the project. Demonstrates that the Internet offers a viable cost-effective…

Focuses on the process of evaluation capacity building (ECB) in a school district from the perspective of an internal evaluator hired to develop the evaluation function of the district. Shows how the work was originally conceived and why it changed. Emphasizes the core function of the district's Assessment Department, managing the standardized…

"Test Scoring" provides insight into psychometric procedures as used by a professional testing company or in large-scale projects. The book contains an overview of standard test theory, a discussion of factor analytic theory, and an exploration of special applications and problems. (SLD)

Used a curriculum-based measurement (CBM) of reading aloud from narrative passages to predict performance on statewide achievement tests in reading and mathematics. Results for 51 students (third graders in the second year of the study) provide initial support for the use of timed oral readings to predict students' performance on statewide…

The AAHPERD Physical Fitness Task Force was formed to develop an effective and appropriate health status test for older adults. This article describes the procedures employed by the Task Force to develop and validate the test. (IAH)