On behalf of the states that participated in the 2009-10 State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS) on Technical Skills Assessment, this paper addresses two significant issues facing the nation: ensuring that more students are both college and career ready and addressing the need for better and more quality data to evaluate…

In this commentary, the author discusses some of the issues she finds interesting from a Swedish perspective, and also makes some comparisons between the systems. The English and Swedish education and assessment systems have some fundamental differences, but also similarities. Some are becoming even more evident after learning about the…

Psychometricians continue to introduce new approaches to setting cut scores for educational assessments in an attempt to improve on current methods. In this paper we describe the Item-Descriptor (ID) Matching method, a method based on IRT item mapping. In ID Matching, test content area experts match items (i.e., their judgments about the knowledge…

This study concluded that certain limitations continue to exist in vocational education research and development efforts, particularly those activities which are related to demonstration projects. Some of these limitations include (1) lack of adequate research design or evaluation methodology, (2) weaknesses in survey tehniques, and (3) weakness…

The quality of a child-care program can be evaluated from above, by visiting adults and observers; below, by the children in the program; outside, by parents served by the program; inside, by the staff of the program; and the perspective of society, which sponsors the program. The implications of these multiple perspectives are discussed. (MDM)

This special series focused on treatment integrity in the child mental health and education field is timely. The articles do a laudable job of reviewing (a) the current status of treatment integrity research and measurement, (b) existing conceptual models of treatment integrity, and (c) the limitations of prior research. Overall, this thoughtful…

States that WHAT WORKS is a respectable document that successfully summarizes the extensive body of information on teaching and learning gathered over the last 10 years. Claims that it does not respect the need for teacher autonomy and that it will probably be used to control and standardize teachers' classroom practices. (GEA)

Considers whether information about outcomes can improve what and how things are done on campus, and whether improvements provide information that can help make important changes to strengthen programs and services. The University of Missouri-Columbia addressed these questions and this paper provides some of the answers they discovered.…

The applicability of conventional measurement techniques in the assessment and evaluation of a middle school educational program has been disputed. The objectives of this program include assisting students in the development of several areas. Among these are independence, healthy self concepts, viable ethical and value systems, socially…

Since 1969 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports on the scholastic achievements of the nation's elementary and secondary level students have been appearing frequently. The reactions to these reports are a perplexing mix of acclaim and criticism, of expressed respect but apparently slight regard. This study assesses NAEP and…

Traditional hospital settings are no longer the only, or even major, clinical resource. The selection of clinical facilities for educational purposes is complex and rarely addressed. A clinical site evaluation instrument must be developed and used to ensure quality facilities. (JOW)

The National curriculum assessment (NCA) in Wales has evolved from common foundations into a system that is now distinct from that in England. The influence of the political and social milieu of Wales can be seen both in the distinctive features that have been in place from the outset and in the more radical changes introduced since 2002. In this…

Defines productivity as the ratio of outputs to inputs. Describes ways of using productivity measures in comparing instructional approaches, program implementations, and longitudinal trends. Offers cautions about potential misinterpretations of productivity comparisons, using a hypothetical analysis of the productivity of four specific…

Comprehensive assessment of educational systems can assist educators in improving the nature of formal education. Goals of education are long range and very general. By observing, describing and classifying teacher and student behaviors, realistic and immediate goals can be established. Effective assessment aids administrative decisions by…

Discusses the differing opinions that result from educational, economic, and sociological inquiry into the outcomes and impact of formal schooling; concludes that economic and sociological analyses of educational outcomes help clarify the functions and purposes of school and college curricula. (LRA)