School year 1987-88 marked the mid-point of the seven-year desegregation settlement for the Cincinnati (Ohio) Public Schools. This report presents data from a review of progress that was provided for in the Bronson Settlement Agreement, answers plaintiff questions, and addresses district concerns. The following subjects are discussed: (1) progress…

This paper describes social problems that ethnic minorities are likely to experience in the 1980s and presents guidelines for shaping educational policies and programs that will help ethnic minority youths to experience more educational equity during the remainder of the decade. The minority groups discussed are those that are heavily concentrated…

In this review of college admission practices, four areas are analyzed: (1) changing patterns of admission standards and practices and factors that have influenced those changes during the past 25 years; (2) importance assigned to high school achievement, test scores, and other criteria in arriving at admission decisions; (3) influence of college…

This descriptive study investigates the variability in the curriculum pacing decisions of classroom teachers. The effects on the reading achievement and performance gains of first and second grade students in a compensatory education program program are examined. Data were collected from: (1) the Metropolitan Readiness Test results used to select…

Pupils at three elementary schools and one junior high school among Area 1 inner-city schools of St. Louis Missouri, were identified as scoring well below norms on standardized tests. An effort to change the educational programs at these schools netted financial support and the creation of Project SHAL (named for the schools involved). Inservice…

Investigations into item bias provide an empirical basis for the identification and elimination of test items which appear to measure different traits across populations or cultural groups. The Psychometric rationales for six approaches to the identification of biased test items are reviewed: (1) Transformed item difficulties: within-group…

In this discussion of the use of achievement tests in evaluating Title I programs, matching content between test and curriculum is the main theme. The point is made that unless a test measures what is taught, it cannot be sensitive to whatever gains the instruction produces. Thus, if different instructional treatments have different objectives, it…

This study addresses two questions: (1) Why do fourth grade students in Rhode Island perform better on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) than eighth grade students?, and (2) Why do Rhode Island parochial students perform better on the ITBS than public school students? The examination of both questions focused on three areas: school setting…

Statistical data on Connecticut education for various years from 1969 to 1981 are presented in 85 tables, each with an accompanying chart or graph. The information is divided into five sections: (1) the context of education, including state, federal, and local expenditures, town wealth and tax rates, and concentration of poor and minority…

A compilation of 109 abstracts from the "Research and Development Report Series," is presented based on R&D projects conducted during 1963-1981 by Educational Testing Service on behalf of the College Entrance Examination Board. Project titles and authors include the following: "The Effect of Special Preparation on SAT Verbal…

Implementation of the Entry Level Skills Program (ELSP) during 1979-80 at Huston-Tillotson College and Wiley College, both historically black institutions in Texas, is described. The ELSP, which is a developmental program for freshman students who have not acquired the full range or level of cognitive skills needed for college, is part of the…

Designed to help vocational teachers aid students in reading vocational education class materials, this handbook contains six sections of background information and suggested activities geared to various aspects of reading and a section of ideas for use in improving the reading skills of vocational students. While most of the examples in the…

A sample of 260 colleges was surveyed during the years 1972-1976 to determine the validity of predicting college freshmen grades from standardized test scores and high school grades using the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment Program, an evaluative and placement service for students and educators involved in the transition from high school…

The controversy surrounding college admission criteria is examined. It is noted that racial classifications and preference of ethnic and racial minorities, as part of a university's admissions policy have been seen to constitute reverse discrimination. Proponents of a racially neutral admissions policy argue for a strengthening of standardized…

The National Education Association (NEA) Task Force on Testing's position statement on educational and psychological testing, originally presented at the 1973 Representative Assembly of NEA, is reinforced for the 1975 assembly. In summary, the task force believes that the major use of tests should be to improve instruction--to diagnose learning…