The summary information in this report provides teachers, school administrators, and students with an overview of results from the June 1998 administration of the Social Studies 33 Diploma Examination given in Alberta, Canada. The report first notes that the examination consists of 60 multiple-choice questions worth 60% and four writing…

School psychologists can play a central role in ensuring that handicapped students are treated fairly in minimum competency testing (MCT). Advocacy concerns include protection in the evaluation process as well as access to graduation and/or a high school diploma. In addition to these rights guaranteed by P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All…

Major issues surrounding the meaningful assessment of students outcomes as part of program evaluation in special education are identified, including: the concept of competence; the development of minimum competency tests; the use of these tests with disabled students; behavioral domains and the classification of competencies; and the measurement…

States that teachers must evaluate not only cognitive and psychomotor skills but also attitudes and perceptions. Cites five factors contributing to improved testing: (1) criterion-reference evaluation, (2) school effectiveness research, (3) minimum competency testing, (4) new concepts of student evaluation, and (5) better teacher-made tests. (CH)

This report reviews the current status, empirical findings, theoretical issues, and practical considerations related to state-level minimum competency testing programs. It finds that, although two-thirds of current testing programs now use direct writing prompts to assess writing achievement, essentially all programs rely on multiple choice tests…

Once a year every student in Hazelwood (Missouri) high schools is required to write a composition. This Total School Writing Assessment is a major step in an effort to emphasize writing skills and to make writing competence a requirement for graduation. (SK)

Examines the purposes of student evaluation and how they influence the daily life of the classroom. Discusses feedback to students and parents, minimum competencies, classroom observations, formal tests, and self-evaluation. (SS)

An overview is provided of the activities of the President's Study Group on Student Learning Outcomes, established in 1990 at Lehigh County Community College to identify associate degree and certificate competencies and to develop strategies for their implementation and assessment. Introductory materials list the Study Group's members and review…

At present, states have no consistent manner in which limited-English-proficient (LEP) students are assessed on statewide or district-level minimum competency examinations. In some states, LEP students need to take the same minimum competency examinations under the same rules as other students to graduate or be promoted. Competency tests have the…

Prospective teachers in many states must pass a competency test prior to receiving an initial teaching certificate. Because of the high stakes associated with them, educator competency tests can play a major role in modifying the nature of teacher training programs. To investigate the nature and extent of such changes, deans and faculty at teacher…

This document is part of a series of materials meant to promote understanding of the knowledge and skills students must have and the kinds of work they must produce to be successful on the Graduation Exit Examination for the 21st Century (GEE 21). For GEE 21, student scores are reported at five achievement levels: advanced; mastery; basic;…

Teacher training institutions should assess the competency level of their graduates so that needed changes in teacher education programs can be made. A model for assessing teacher education graduates and the teacher education program is described. (CJ)

The Italian educational system's experiences with national examinations might help United States educators understand the impact of state tests on students, schools, and education in general. (JT)

The authors developed competency tests to document students' achievement of essential competencies in food and nutrition classes. Procedures included (1) developing the item pool; (2) determining validity and reliability; and (3) field testing. The study confirmed that it is possible to develop multiple-choice test items for essential competencies…

Application of a knowledge-based standard in evaluating a written certification examination developed by the American Board of Anesthesiology established a standard of 57 percent correct over two years' examinations. This process is recommended for developing mastery-based (rather than normative-based) success criteria for evaluation of medical…