Assessment items are commonly field tested prior to operational use to observe statistical item properties such as difficulty. Item parameter estimates from field testing may be used to assign scores via pre-equating or computer adaptive designs. This study examined differences between item difficulty estimates based on field test and operational…

This study, drawing on data from the third cycle of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and employing three-level hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) as an analytic strategy, examined the relations of inquiry-based science teaching to science achievement and dispositions toward science among 170,474 15-year-old students from…

This paper first provides a brief overview of the history and current usage of the concept of competence in academic research, and then undertakes a critical discussion of how the term is currently used in educational policy. The running example used throughout the paper is competence in foreign language learning. The PISA study is discussed to…

The year 2015 was significant for the arena of international development, as UNESCO's "Education for All" agenda was replaced by "Education 2030", which would identify minimum standards of education quality. The OECD had been working on extending its existing PISA assessment into low- and middle-income countries through PISA…

The timing of children's start to school is the interest of researchers, policy-makers and especially parents. Researches on this issue have recently pointed to the concept of relative age effect (RAE). The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of RAE on mathematics achievement in Turkey. In order to accomplish this purpose, the…

This research was conducted to determine the effects of activity-based teaching on student motivation and academic achievement. Pretest and post-test control group design of experimental research was employed for this study. Two MCQ achievement tests were used as research tools for the data collection as pre-test and post-test. The first step in…

Translation is considered one of the most important skills in studying and learning a language. It is termed as a craft which is thought to be enjoyed by those who aspire to grab a sound command over second language. This study has strived to analyze problem-causing factors faced by the EFL learners in translation particularly in translating…

Explanatory patterns regarding situational differences in reading comprehension performance may be best captured by multidimensional reader profiles. Data from 56 third- and fifth-grade students were collected to investigate the applicability, scope, and convergent validity of a reader profiling scheme based on Alexander's (2005) reader profile…

This executive summary report summarizes the academic performance of students in the Austin Independent School District's bilingual and English as a second language programs during 2018-2019. Students' advanced placement course performance, state academic tests (STAAR and EOC) performance, as well as graduation and dropout rates are summarized. A…

This report provides information about the performance of Aboriginal students (including adults) in public schools. Readers should notice that there are changes to historical and trend data. Once a student has self-identified as being of Aboriginal ancestry, the student is included in all report outcomes for Aboriginal students. This approach…

The purpose of this study was to determine if the size of a public school district or the amount allocated per-pupil in the state of Texas made a difference in student academic outcomes for special education students. The data evaluated in the study were the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Algebra I score and the Public…

This paper explores 1) why humanistic literacy is important in welcoming the industrial revolution 4.0, especially in the academic community and 2) how the implementation of MBKM (Collegiate Independent Learning) programs can be the main support in responding to industry 4.0. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate "how" the academic…

In Peru, national assessments repeatedly rank Indigenous mathematics students as the lowest performing across the entirety of Latin America and South America. Whereas lack of financial resources often predicts low measures, the history of educational practice teaches us that students' poverty need not predict their educational outcomes -- creative…

In line with the widespread proliferation of digital technology in everyday life, many countries are now beginning to use computer-based exams (CBEs) in their post-primary education systems. To ensure that these CBEs are delivered in a manner that preserves their fairness, validity, utility and credibility, several factors pertaining to their…

In 2018, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) added to their PISA regime the assessment of "global competence". Given this novel, data-driven approach to governing the internationalisation of K-12 education, this study compares this recent intervention to a longer-standing mode of governing for the pedagogical…