At the request of the Oklahoma Department of Education, the Technical Assistance Center 3 West conducted a statewide review of local Chapter 1 evaluation data to provide possible explanations for the unusual standardized test score gains or losses reported by a number of local school districts. During the two months of quality control visits, 35…

This study investigated whether the Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning-Revised (DIAL-R) norms, established with American children, are applicable to a Canadian population. Based on an early childhood model which incorporates ecological validity as well as predictive validity, the DIAL-R assesses three areas: motor, concepts…

A method for translating the achievement gains in Normal Curve Equivalents (NCE) to a more conceptually understandable index of academic growth is described. This method calculates "Expected Growth (EG)" and expresses the relationship of observed achievement gains. The method is shown to be easily applied and well suited to local…

This study investigates the relationship between an examinee's test anxiety level, degree of person fit, and ability. Three major types of person fit indices measure the degree of unusual response patterns: norm comparison indices; goodness-of-fit indices; and extended indices. Five different person fit indices were calculated for the results of…

A project was conducted to expand a previously developed model for developing proficiency/equivalency tests to evaluate previously acquired knowledge and skill competencies in the areas of clinical microbiology and clinical hematology. Designed for a target group consisting of on-the-job trainees, military personnel, and medical laboratory…

Selected data from three of the latest summary reports of the College Board's Admissions Testing Program (ATP) are presented. They are: College Bound Seniors, 1980-National, Midwestern, and Indiana. Data including Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, the Test of Standard Written English (TSWE) scores, and information from the Student Descriptive…

This paper discusses several commonly used maximum performance tests of speech production, including phonation volume, maximum phonation duration, maximum fricative duration, fundamental frequency range, maximum expiratory pressure, maximum closing force, and maximum repetition rate. The published normative data, adequacy of these data for…

This article discusses implementation of the California Department of Education's accountability program, its structure and function, selection of performance indicators, and recognition of schools. A survey of school officials found strong support for the concept of accountability, but weak agreement on the specifics to implement it. (Author/JAZ)

Differences in the corrected state rankings on Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores are explained by the percentage of students taking the test and by student composition by sex, race, and average family income. Higher state per capita educational expenditures are significantly related to higher average SAT scores. Policy implications are…

The Iowa Articulation Norms Project and its Nebraska replication provided normative information about speech sound acquisition of children ages two through nine. This paper discusses the influence of demographic variables, trends in ages of acquisition, the impact of acceptability criteria on outcomes, and the usefulness of plotting acquisition…

The effects of using recommended data collection procedures on median recommended test standards, variability of recommended test standards, and reliability of recommended standards for 7 subtests of the National Teacher Examinations Communications Skills and General Knowledge Tests were explored, using 236 evaluators (75 public school teachers…

In their discussion of problems related to identifying learning disabilities with individually administered achievement tests, Phillips and Clarizio incorrectly conclude that developmental standard score scales produce unrealistic expectations for the growth of low-achieving students. By definition, these scores state how much the norm group's…

Discusses five common rural impediments to equal access to gifted programs, and focuses on two under educators' control, program funding and student identification practices. Offers three approaches to local standardization of intelligence test norms. 11 references. (SV)

Introduces controversial issue of subgroup norming, in which normative reference data are based on subgroups of population rather than on total group, in employment testing and briefly highlights two articles that address this issue. Controversy over subgroup norming has increased with passage of Civil Rights Act of 1991, which bans any form of…

Using age norms in the Neale Analysis of Reading Ability-Revised assessments of reading ability can distort the diagnosis of reading difficulty, as evidenced in the assessment practices of the New South Wales (Australia) Department of Education. Grade-normative data (year-level norms) and abandoning the reporting of precise reading scores are…