This resource package has been prepared as a means for distributing not only the results of the 1978 British Columbia Assessment of Written Expression but also to provide educators with clear, well-organized, classroom-ready materials which will assist them in teaching and evaluating the skills of written expression. It contains all of the test…

Statewide information about the performance of Massachusetts' grade 12 students in listening and speaking is presented for the 1979-80 school year. A total of 2,207 students were tested by listening to material on a tape recording and then answering multiple-choice questions about what they heard. The performance of students in listening is…

A follow-up survey was conducted of the 1978 Educational Quality Assessment (EQA) to ascertain what impact the Pennsylvania Statewide Assessment Program had on schools and school districts. The survey instrument consisted of 20 items tapping: (1) the quality of information and services provided; (2) dissemination activities engaged in by the…

The Texas Assessment of Basic Skills (TABS) is described. Specifications are listed for TABS objectives in mathematics reading, and writing for grades 3, 5 and exit level (grades 6-12). It is intended that sections of the publication will be distributed to curriculum planners and appropriate teachers to assist in their determination of whether…

The major concern of this report was to identify some of the problems which arise when educational accountability models are introduced into a state and to begin placing those problems within a communication context. It was suggested that there are problems created by the definition of the term "accountability", the term…

Described is the system of evaluation used to monitor and assess the effectiveness of community service/continuing education programs in Florida funded through Title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965. It is necessary to first describe the State Agency's understanding of program evaluation and indicate the influences that contribute to that…

The current status of state testing programs is assessed drawing primarily on information provided by the Educational Testing Service publication, "State Testing Programs, 1973 Revision." Increases in state operated programs are indicated and are probably due to an increase in federal money for testing purposes. Because of possible…

The process of assessing learner needs in Kentucky developed within a planned framework of tasks to be accomplished sequentially in a time frame directed toward an ultimate goal of comprehensive planning. One hundred specific needs categorized under 10 priority general needs of the state's learners were identified through a survey resulting in the…

Reviewed in this public relations publication is an overview of programs, goals, and procedures written for parents and lay groups as well as segments of the educational community. (RC)

Pennsylvania's Educational Quality Assessment Program provides each participating school with a building level report in which state percentiles are a prominent part. Multiple matrix sampling was being considered as a technique to reduce testing time. However, there was great concern that the error associated with estimating the school mean might…

The ultimate test for success of a statewide assessment program is the extent to which the assessment data and information are used by the intended assessment audiences. The major premise adopted in this paper is that involvement of parents, teachers, and school administrators in the assessment process is the key to acceptance and subsequent use…

"Accountability" and "assessment" are terms that are frequently misused and misunderstood. This document is intended to stimulate conversations about assessment of and accountability for student learning, to raise assessment issues that may prevent improved student learning, and raise awareness about the relationship between assessment and…

The bond that links quality assessment and effective teaching is clarified for North Carolina teachers in the context of the state's continued emphasis on effective schooling. This manual begins a statewide effort to promote assessment literacy among educators. It is emphasized that no single type of assessment can meet all of the purposes of…

In 1984, the Department of Education published the "Wall Chart," the first state-by-state national report card on educational performance. The history of the wall chart, new directions for developing state-by-state assessments, and recommendations for improving the usefulness of state rankings are discussed. (SLD)

Implementation of the Illinois Plan for Industrial Technology Education was assessed through interviews with 117 teachers. The assessment model (based on Stufflebeam's Context, Input, Process, Product) blended qualitative and quantitative information. Six key dimensions of change were identified, and the Transition Assessment Inventory proved…