Presented in this symposium reader are nine papers, four of which deal with the theory and impact of the Rasch model on language testing and five of which discuss final examinations in secondary schools in both general and specific terms. The papers are: "Introduction to Rasch Measurement: Some Implications for Language Testing" (J. J.…

To fulfill one objective of the Post-Secondary Displaced Homemaker Project conducted by Central Texas College, this technical manual was written to assist Texas community colleges in setting up and operating displaced homemaker programs. The manual was developed through a review of current, applicable literature, as well as input from the…

A set of supplemental materials for teaching grade 7 life sciences to beginning and intermediate students of English as a second language (ESL) includes an introductory section on teaching the ESL student and six instructional units. The introductory section discusses the special classroom needs and characteristics of the ESL student and provides…

The New York City Staff Development Program for Bilingual/English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) Teachers and School Building Supervisors was designed to provide public school personnel working with limited English proficient children in grades five through eight with an overview of issues pertinent to the instruction of this population. The program…

This study was undertaken to further document content validity and to provide evidence of construct validity of the National Teacher Examinations (NTE) Core Battery, using an alternative strategy. This strategy involved identifying the important job functions and professional knowledge areas of teachers. A multi-method approach was used to…

This report contains a description of the conceptual background and methodology for a study concerning how academic tasks are managed in senior high school classrooms. This high school study is Phase 2 of the Managing Academic Tasks (MAT) study. The MAT study is focused on understanding how curriculum experiences are shaped by the classroom…

This handbook was designed to help Australian technical, adult, and further education (TAFE) teachers, especially those in vocational education areas, to assess and evaluate students. The guide contains seven chapters, each written so it can stand alone. At the beginning of each chapter is an explanation of what is to follow and a statement of the…

Intended for college or secondary school teachers of courses beyond the basic level in freshman English and composition, this course description treats components of composition for critical thinking, including semantics, tone, logic, and argumentation, and their application to writing critical, argumentative, and research papers. The introduction…

An assessment model was developed to produce change in adult basic education (ABE) programs and thereby improve learning for adult students. During the development of the model, 89 ABE programs were analyzed. To determine the effect that ABE has on the quality of life of its students, researchers observed 77 of the 89 programs included in the…

A pilot study assessed the effectiveness of two selection profiles that were designed to evaluate candidates for admission into prevocational hairdressing and automotive mechanics programs. The selection profile, which was developed by the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) National Centre for Research and Development, consisted of the…

Recent college assessment initiatives of the federal government, regional accrediting associations, state systems of higher education, and higher education institutions are examined. The goals and strategies of existing college assessment programs are also considered. The following issues related to developing and implementing college assessment…

A research study of the implementation of "good ideas" in 14 schools came to the conclusion that differences in school organization and climate cause differences in the success of school improvement. Specific aspects of organization and climate in these schools, called factors of school context, are the following: resources, incentives,…

This report presents recommendations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to guide it in assessing its initiatives in science education. The report outlines appropriate goals, procedures, arrangements, and resources necessary to establish an effective set of assessment practices that build on existing assessment activities in the Foundation,…

In supporting science education, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is, in some instances, funding the enrichment experiences of individual students, but more often it is supporting efforts to improve complex, decentralized education systems. Many feel that the Foundation's best chance for success lies in a grant support strategy that targets…

A study identified strategies used in selected rural states for evaluating the effectiveness of vocational programs and services for handicapped and disadvantaged students. During the study, the researcher examined the documents used by 13 rural states to assess their vocational programs for handicapped and disadvantaged individuals. This…