The No Child Left Behind Act, rather than preparing all students for the future, reverts to the outmoded practices of the industrial age--a narrow curriculum and the sorting of students through standardized testing. (Author/MLF)

Provides information to parents about tests and assessments used to evaluate their children in school. Performance assessments, such as portfolios, are increasingly used to measure students' ability to do actual tasks. However, standardized aptitude and achievement tests still have a major influence on what students are taught. (SM)

Discusses instructional design procedures for teachers to increase instructional effectiveness in classrooms with a culturally diverse student body. Highlights include analyzing learner characteristics using standardized tests and informal assessment techniques; specifying instructional strategies that are particularly useful in multicultural…

Argues against the development of national tests, standards, and curriculum. Proposes that standardized tests be replaced with assessment procedures that are compatible with a process-oriented curriculum. (MG)

Annual desk reference of key education facts is organized as follows: (1) year's education events in review; (2) common measures of education attainment; (3) cost of school construction; (4) demographics of school leadership; (5) gender gap in academic achievement; and (6) key education indicators by region and by state. (MLF)

Describes the "Golden Rule" test construction technique and its legal history. Focuses on the legal/measurement issues and considers alternative procedures for constructing racially "unbiased" tests. Concludes with an analysis of the probable reaction of the present Supreme Court to a constitutional/statutory challenge of the…

The study with 201 students at 4 Ohio Colleges of pharmacy examined relationships between number of practical experience hours worked and both cumulative grade point average and performance on the National Association Boards of Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NABPLEX). Results indicated no relationship between work habits of students and academic…

Describes the Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) computer program developed at the University of Arizona. Explains that HOTS attempts to build thinking skills, encourage self-confidence, and improve standardized test scores, especially in reading and mathematics, among at-risk students in grades four through seven. (SG)

This study attempts to detect the presence of either of 2 different categories of large-scale bias in 4 widely used mathematics achievement tests: induced bias and norming bias. Subjects were 407 eighth graders. (IAH)

Contends that the high probability of error in placement decisions based on high school records and standardized test scores delays the academic development of many students placed unnecessarily in mandatory skill development programs. Advocates skills assessment based on current classroom performance. (DMM)

The Learning Outcome Testing Program of the West Virginia Department of Education is designed to provide public school teachers/administrators with test questions matching learning outcomes. The approach, software selection, results of pilot tests with teachers in 13 sites, and development of test items for item banks are described. (SLD)

Average Scholastic Aptitude Test verbal and mathematics scores are charted according to the total number of years the students tested studied 6 subjects (arts and music, English, foreign language, mathematics, natural science, and social sciences and history) in high school, ranging from fewer than 15 to over 20 hours. (MSE)

Examines the organization of the extended project that is part of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) A Level Business Studies examination. Provides a timetable for implementing the project. Includes student evaluations of the project. (LS)

The impact of different elementary school curricula (grades three and six) on standardized achievement test scores at item and objective levels, and differences across curricula in generation of item factor loadings were studied. Specific and generally small differences in textbooks within a district were not significant. (TJH)

The average scores of high-school students on the verbal section of the SAT fell slightly while students from minority groups continue to show improvement. Tables show SAT averages by sex, race, and ethnic group and ACT scores by sex, race and academic preparation. (MLW)