This study investigates whether adequate yearly progress (AYP) status, locale, and sector--common variables used to judge the quality of schools--accurately signal true differences in instructional practices in high school mathematics and science. Using data from the High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS), we find the school-to-school variation in…

This study examined factors associated with the upward transfer of baccalaureate aspirants beginning at community colleges. Based on data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 and the Postsecondary Education Transcript Study, a sequential logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict bachelor's degree-seeking community…

According to many higher education experts, merit scholarship screening methods discriminate against a disproportionate number of underrepresented minority (URM) students. The screening methods, however, favored individuals with the highest achievement test scores and above-average GPAs. The assumption in the common selection model is that test…

An investigation was undertaken of the intercorrelations among residuals obtained by applying regression techniques under two conditions: (1) mean sixth-grade Metropolitan Achievement Test reading scores predicted by mean second-grade Stanford Achievement Test reading scores, and (2) mean sixth-grade reading scores predicted by mean second-grade…

School effectiveness indices (SEIs) based on residuals from regressing test performance in reading and mathematics onto prior-year test performance and a socioeconomic status measure (percentage eligible for a subsidized lunch program) were obtained for two consecutive years for 431 South Carolina elementary schools. The analysis involved school…

The principal objective of this five-year longitudinal study was to determine the efficacy of employing the Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI) and the American College Testing (ACT) program scores in designing a predictive model for identifying entering community college freshmen students' propensity to fall into one of three categories:…

This report briefly summarizes the educational progress of a sample of children who took part in one of the earliest Head Start programs (1966). The report addresses the following questions: (1) Was participation in Head Start a factor in preventing retention in grade and/or special class placement? (2) Were there differences between Head Start…

Researchers describe results from a longitudinal study of variables predicting retention in undergraduate teacher education. Selected teacher candidates' background characteristics were correlated with undergraduate grade point ratio (GPR) as a measure of academic success. The sample consisted of 657 candidates in an initial course in teacher…

This paper reports a model of the impact of teacher behavior on student achievement. Estimates of the model's efficiency are obtained and its utility tested on a second set of data. Methodological and theoretical frameworks are from sociologists interested in contextual affects phenomena. Data were collected from 374 students during 1971-73. Using…