Examines theoretical components of educational planning in Latin America. The purpose of the article is to provide insight into current Latin American educational problems by identifying patterns in educational policy formation. (Author/DB)

Examines public education in Waltham, Massachusetts, over a 50-year period to illustrate the effects of the testing movement on a local American school. Findings support the contention of radical historians and economists that (1) the major objective of public schools has been social control and social sorting out of students and (2) testing and…

A group of 41 learning disabled children were tested on the WISC-R. Two main questions were explored: (a) Do WISC-R tests assess "g" for learning disabled children to the same degree that they do for normal children? (b) Is there significantly more scatter among the tests for learning disabled than for normal youngsters? (Author)

Reports that results of a 12 year survey of student grade averages and student knowledge indicate that students entering college today are less knowledgeable than the 1967 student, but have higher high school grade averages. (SL)

The importance, effects, and degree of variability of student experiences and learning outcomes in the primary clerkship were examined. It was concluded that variability of experience in clinical clerkships is neither inherently good nor bad. (LBH)

Criticizes and replies to allegations by Alan Harris (SO 505 709) that a core curriculum would be unsatisfactory and offers thoughts on whether a core curriculum is necessary in England. The conclusion is that a core curriculum is possible and desirable if social as well as individual needs are considered. (Author/DB)

The increasing sophistication of school health program evaluation procedures tends to parallel or reflect the development of the total school health program. (JD)

Examines the continuing controversy on test scores and student achievement in New Jersey. (RK)

Discusses the advantages of using a pretest in introductory agronomy courses. Provides a pretest that has been developed for use in an introductory crops course taught at Southern Illinois University. Includes 25 definitions, 17 true-false and multiple choice questions, and 6 short answer questions. (TW)

This article highlights three common problems with assessment research, including the following needs: (1) to adopt a hypothesis testing approach; (2) for research to be guided by available formal and informal theory, and (3) for research to be consistent with general school psychological practice. New research methodologies and new research…

Provides background information on the McGaw report, which addresses literacy assessment in secondary education. Presents the Western Australian Education Department's view of literacy. Describes the guidelines and assessment procedures in the Department's investigation of the McGaw report's implications. Discusses the 1986 school trials that…

While the "Standards for Evaluations of Educational Programs, Projects and Materials" provides a good checklist of prerequisites, such standards do not guarantee indisputable outcomes. Reanalysis of reading comprehension and mathematics mean achievement data from an international evaluation study illustrates how political bias can…

Describes evolving trends in testing, including such topics as formative versus summative evaluations; the use of tests as a guide to instructional decision making; the need to focus on higher level cognitive skills; and the role of computers in testing. An annotated bibliography lists 10 relevant journal articles. (CLB)

Developing assessment measures so that the ratings for assignments across teachers will be similar was the goal. What was learned from testing and how valid and relevant assignments might be produced and recognized are described. Survey results are included. MNS)

Recommends a model for school/curriculum evaluation at the district level that views the different levels of schooling as a continuum of learning. Explains a typical K-12 evaluation schedule using a 5-year cycle. Offers quotes from administrators who had participated in K-12 evaluation. (DMM)