Item response model applications to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data specifically aimed at the uses of item response models in mathematics item banking are discussed. Approaches for addressing goodness of fit were organized into three categories: Checks on model assumptions, expected features, and additional model…

The feasibility of reducing scoring costs for the Test of Spoken English (TSE) by using one rater was investigated. Currently, two raters are used. It was found that, because of the possibility of different standards used by potential raters, it does not appear feasible to use a single rater as the sole determiner of speaking proficiency under the…

Findings of two studies which examined the identification of prekindergarteners with potential learning problems are presented. The first was a pilot study, in which a short screening device and a parent questionnaire were administered to a large, randomly-selected sample. In the second study, these instruments were validated against extensive…

The purpose of this report is to provide summary information regarding the evaluation of the Early Prevention of School Failure Project (EPSFP). Initially funded by the state of Illinois, the EPSFP encourages school districts to identify and remediate deficiencies in students which appear to be related to early school failure. Immediately…

A desire for greater accountability in the basic skills areas in the Wichita (Kansas) Public Schools led the board of education to establish a 58-member task force to study the situation. This document comprises the final reports of subcommittees in six areas of investigation: reading, mathematics, social studies, written composition, vocational…

Traditionally, the use of control groups, regression discontinuity/projection, or norm referenced models has been advocated for educational program evaluation. The small numbers of and the heterogeneous characteristics of severely and profoundly handicapped make these evaluation methods inappropriate for this population subgroup. Furthermore, no…

The Cognitive Curriculum uses a nontraditional approach to language instruction. Children play an active role, learning from concrete experiences while writing and reading their own material. This type of instruction has been developed with Project Follow Through students and has been particularly successful in writing instruction. The Productive…

Measuring attainment of the program's objectives and describing the program's implementation are listed as two of the evaluator's major responsibilities. The description should include an explanation of the context in which the program was initiated, as well as the component materials and activities. This booklet has three purposes: (1) suggesting…

The stated purpose of this study is to determine what pupil, teacher, and school district characteristics relate to young children's expressed attitudes as measured by the School Sentiment Index and to determine the usefulness of this measurement instrument. The subjects of the study were kindergarten through grade two children who received…

The research project's objectives were: survey of the field, development of new approaches and techniques, investigation of factors in the employment of the trainable mentally retarded (TMR), development of objective measurement of work adjustment behaviors, selective application of new methods, and development of a model vocational evaluation…

This study discusses the National Assessment of Educational Progress's national survey of educational achievement in art and demonstrates that it is feasible to evaluate children's drawings obtained with free response assessment techniques. Four art production exercises, each calling for pencil drawing responses, were administered during 1974-1975…

This paper traces the development of the Maternal Teaching Style Instrument (MTSI) at the Demonstration and Research Center for Early Education (DARCEE). The MTSI was developed to document changes in maternal behavior; to better understand the role of maternal behavior as it influences children's cognitive growth and development and to redefine…

An analysis of the evaluation instruments of clinical clerkships from 54 medical schools was made. Instruments were classified as to purpose, format, and skills measured. Thirty-nine schools used a modified Likert format; a few schools also had a check list of adjectives or short answer questions. Nearly all instruments had some space for general…

The feasiblity of an observational rating scale which would provide objective, reliable and quantifiable measures of social and affective behavior was investigated. The Observation of Socialization Behavior (OSB), focusing on peer-group behavior of pre-school children and designed for use in unstructured situations was developed. Two forms of the…

Comparisons of students' educational performances are usually based on test and examination results. However, for such comparisons to be valid, it is suggested that evaluations must be made on some common basis since many educational and employment decisions are based on these evaluations. Standardized tests, often used when comparisons are to be…