The psychometric integrity of selected items from the Mathematics Association of America (MAA) placement tests for college students was investigated. Two alternative and parallel versions of the test were developed (Form A and Form B) for this study. Data for 539 students seeking admission into an undergraduate mathematics curriculum at a private…

This document contains standards and guidelines for postsecondary education student services and student development programs. The stated expectations are that all institutions with minimally acceptable student services, student development programs, or professional preparation programs must be able to satisfy the Council for the Advancement of…

Because of the high rate of failure of engineering students in a required engineering physics course at the University of Texas at Austin, College Board Achievement Test (CBAT) scores in Mathematics Level 1 for 537 students enrolled in the course were compared with their physics grades. Performance on the mathematics section of the Scholastic…

The paper reviews the literature on problems associated with the assessment and placement of language minority students in special education and the utilization of a prereferral system and describes the development of the "Prereferral Screening Instrument" (PSI). The review of the literature looks at: the disproportionate representation…

Literature was reviewed for the purpose of locating an instrument or procedure for use in assessing children's readiness for the first grade. The major part of this report consists of annotated bibliographic citations concerning: (1) effects of age on school placement; (2) advisability of screening for readiness; (3) reviews of screening…

A description is provided of the work of the Student Assessment Task Force, which was charged by the Washington State Student Services Commission Executive Board to "provide leadership to the state system on the topic of assessment." Following background information on the charge of the task force and a statement of its objectives and…

A public school district in Alabama uses the Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) in place of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Revised) (WISC-R) as a screening device for students who are referred for possible special education placement. To determine the relationship between the two tests, Pearson product moment correlation…

The guidelines discuss appropriate educational services for children with special health problems. An initial chapter considers the range of common needs of this population, including modification of daily schedule and health related services. Five suggestions are offered to support families, among them understanding needs and rights and…

The report presents an analysis of the size and composition of the school age handicapped population, the numbers and types of teachers providing education to them, the settings and accessibility of school facilities, and the levels of federal funding. The report notes the lack of available data on many national issues. Among major findings…

Intended as a resource for program planners and implementers, the manual outlines procedures for early childhood special education in Nevada. Eight major topics are addressed in separate chapters: rationale for early childhood special education (economic, child development, family and ethical perspectives, and documentation of effectiveness);…

This report presents the major available evidence to date on the validity of the New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test (NJCBSPT). The findings are as follows: (1) results of two content-validity questionnaires show New Jersey college instructors to be in general agreement that the test content is appropriate and important to assess; (2)…

The program for gifted and talented students in the Austin Independent School District consists of 126 programs in grades K-12 to develop skills and abilities in academic subjects, music, art, problem-solving, and coping with giftedness. The program has been in effect since 1975. The focus of the evaluation in 1981-82 is the identification of…

The assessment and diagnosis of learning disabilities (LD) in the school is problematic. How do educators determine who is learning disabled? What practices are recommended? The main focus of the paper is on specific, relatively technical points that influence the validity of assessment. Since technical concerns are only one of the factors…

Intended for parents of handicapped students, the guide (available in English, Spanish, or Chinese) sets forth New York State policies for special education. The following topics are among those considered: eligibility for special education, program types, alternative placements (such as residential settings), referral, evaluation, individualized…

Intended for parents of handicapped students, the guide (available in English, Spanish, or Chinese) sets forth the New York State policies for speical education. The following topics are among those considered: eligibility for special education, program types, alternative placements (such as residential settings), referral, evaluation,…