Twenty-fourth annual Gallup/Phi Delta Kappan education poll shows public that wants improved public schools despite elected leaders' failed improvement efforts. Survey respondents perceive biggest problems facing schools are inadequate financial support, drug use, lack of discipline. They support national standardized tests, preschool programs for…

Describes the impact of North Carolina's testing program in chemistry on curriculum and instruction from teachers' perspectives. A random sample of 100 teachers received a questionnaire yielding a usable sample of 48, of which 8 were interviewed. Results suggest testing is making the chemistry curriculum more uniform across the state. It is not…

Because most states incorporate similar clinical tests in their dental licensing examinations and most dentists surveyed would like greater mobility between states without taking another clinical examination, development of a national clinical examination is desirable. Demonstration of continued competency should also be required. (MSE)

With a computer's assistance, a Missouri school is assessing its fifth graders' reading progress by recording their voices as they read aloud, then saving the students' self-evaluations along with the recordings in a computer portfolio. Program aims to involve students in self-evaluation and critical thinking, promote student ownership of reading…

The new Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) measures high-level reasoning in verbal and mathematical domains not tied to any particular instructional experiences, providing an alternative way of demonstrating scholastic ability that may not be reflected in grades. The relationship of College Board testing programs to possible national content…

Using the 1988 National Education Longitudinal Study data, this paper examines whether there are discernible differences in parents' involvement level, depending on the type of school (Catholic or public) their child attends. There are some differences in involvement external to the family, but few measured differences in the ways Catholic and…

Defines assessment as finding out where the problems are in a program for the purpose of eliminating them. Presents a method for developing a formal assessment plan in history including principles of assessment, program goals, and objectives. Suggests determining what is already done and what further assessment methods are desired. (DK)

For all its attractiveness, alternative assessment is fraught with complications and difficulties, as Rhode Island's experience shows. Although alternative assessment can be systematic, there are no ways to rate large numbers of performance-based tasks, portfolios, interviews, exhibits, or essays. Some standardization is necessary, and assessment…

Two sides of debate on racial norming of aptitude tests are argued: that aptitude tests cannot be neutral to experience because aptitude itself is not neutral to experience, thus fairness to everyone is not possible in a single test; and that, predictively, ability tests are essentially color-blind and racial norming satisfies affirmative action…

A study of 521 teacher education students taking the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) revealed that students with American College Testing Program (ACT) composite scores of 21 or higher had a high probability of passing all 3 parts of the PPST at the first attempt at a cutoff score of 169. A state testing exemption for such students resulted.…

Examines the recent decline in verbal scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and suggests that demographic shifts, as well as a movement toward a more iconic, oral society resulting from videotapes, are responsible. The use of hypermedia and multimedia is discussed, and the definition of literacy is considered. (LRW)

Provides brief overviews of the four articles in this issue. Articles concern (1) social influences on kindergartners' journal writing; (2) stress behaviors of kindergartners while taking standardized tests; (3) preschool teachers' attitudes about cognitive development, educational objectives, and curriculum practices; and (4) preschool teachers'…

Explores the ethical issues involved in using standardized tests to implement a state-level policy. Examines the fourth grade science program evaluation test administered in New York State for the first time in 1989. A utilitarian view of ethics ignores the consequences of testing for different constituents, obviates caring behavior, and damages…

Calculators are transforming mathematics instruction, freeing it from an arithmetic-driven curriculum. They have encouraged teachers to think more carefully about what is important to learn. Calculators should be used at all levels of instruction and on tests, including standardized exams. Meaningful educational reform depends on such a change.…

A study assessed the feasibility of sequential testing of medical students using standardized patients. Sequential testing passes students who score well on the first segment of the test thus eliminating additional student-standardized patient encounters. Subjects were six classes of Southern Illinois University students (n=404). Results strongly…