Outlines a successful reading program developed in Wakulla County, Florida, schools where the adult illiteracy rate was seriously high. The success of this program emphasizes three points: begin with detailed needs assessment, establish clear program goals, and provide continuous evaluation.(MD)

On the Australian Mathematics Competition, boys responded correctly to more questions than did girls, but this difference came largely from a handful of questions. Responses to questions where sex differences occurred are discussed. (MNS)

Discusses several tests designed to determine speaking ability which preceded the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages/Educational Testing Service test and describes the benefits of the American Institute of Musical Studies oral proficiency testing program. (SED)

A survey of 136 teachers serving learning disabled students indicated such results as that 82.1 percent knew about direct and frequent measurement; that 43.8 percent used the approach, expending 10 percent time; and that 46.4 percent did not use the technique due to perceived lack of time or skills. (Authors/MC)

The role of the school psychologist in the U.S. Virgin Islands is that of psychometrician primarily. The critical school problems in the Virgin Islands are similar to those of other multilingual/multicultural societies. Underfunding and understaffing provide little opportunity for school psychologists to function as therapists. (BW)

The question whether the range of assessment for a course in Greek literature in translation can be broadened to include multiple choice tests is explored. An experimental test is described and evaluated. (RM)

Whether it is standardized test data, student journals, or informal classroom question and answer, assessments provide invaluable, ongoing diagnostic information for making key instructional decisions. In this engaging and comprehensive resource, the authors demonstrate practical ways for embedding test preparation into teaching by integrating…

This paper examines item response theory (IRT) scale transformations and IRT scale linking methods used in the Non-Equivalent Groups with Anchor Test (NEAT) design to equate two tests, X and Y. It proposes a unifying approach to the commonly used IRT linking methods: mean-mean, mean-var linking, concurrent calibration, Stocking and Lord and…

Educational standards are an essential tool for many school districts in their efforts to increase student academic achievement. Elementary school administrators and teachers play a critical role in the process of gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing student data with the goal of creating a meaningful plan to accomplish this goal. This article…

Teaching matters. Study after study confirms that students who have high quality teachers make significant and lasting achievement gains. Those with less effective teachers play a constant game of academic catch-up. Having high quality teachers consistently tops parents' list of critical elements of an effective school. As the National Commission…

This paper illustrates a method to study rater severity across exam administrations. A multi-facet Rasch model defined the ratings as being dominated by four facets: examinee ability, rater severity, project difficulty, and task difficulty. Ten years of data from administrations of a histotechnology performance assessment were pooled and analyzed…

Schools across the United States are striving to improve student performance in science by adjusting curricula and teaching practices to meet national and state standards. This ERIC Digest describes the current status of proficiency testing in science, including the topics of high stakes testing and its outcomes. It also discusses the future of…

Several diverse philosophical schools of thought might well provide guidance for the teaching of reading. But which philosophies of education should be studied in depth and applied in teaching students, if perceived as providing for optimal learner progress? This paper first addresses the advantages and disadvantages of statewide testing and state…

The Social Studies Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) was designed to be administered in three sessions, two of which use items specifically developed for Missouri with input from Missouri teachers and one of which uses selected portions of the nationally normed Terra Nova Test, developed by CTB/McGraw-Hill. Anchor papers for constructed-response…

How the relationship between test-taking motivation and performance might depend on ability was studied with college students taking a science (n=249) or social studies (n=473) test that had no academic consequences. Students taking these tests are told that their responses provide important information for evaluating the university's programs but…