Differences in the Texas Teacher Appraisal System scores of teacher subgroups over 2 years were examined for 2,366 teachers for scores on individual domains, sums of scores of the 1st 4 domains, and overall summary performance scores, as well as appraiser differences. Implications for teacher evaluation are discussed. (SLD)

Whether adequate levels of interrater reliability could be obtained on a national, standardized examination using one examiner per observation was studied with 101 paired candidate observations on an examination for optometry. Results indicate that psychometrically sound judgments can be obtained with one examiner. (SLD)

A 52-item inventory was constructed to measure the metacognitive awareness of adults. Items were classified into eight subcomponents under categories of knowledge and regulation of cognition. Two experiments with 307 undergraduates support a 2-factor structure. Implications for assessment are discussed. (SLD)

This article attempts to outline the issues and to describe the process of developing a metaevaluation framework for assessing the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the performance-assessment instruments being created by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The metaevaluation framework consists of a set of evaluation…

Portfolios are the centerpiece of Vermont's statewide assessment program in mathematics. Portfolio scores in the first two years were not reliable enough to permit the reporting of student-level results, but increasing the number of readers or the number of portfolio pieces is not operationally feasible. (SLD)

Five articles in this special issue present the approaches to accountability found in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland, provinces that represent 85% of all Canadian elementary and secondary school students. The articles are then discussed by representatives of four national Canadian educational associations. (SLD)

The adequacy of linking statewide standardized test results to the National Assessment of Educational Progress by using equipercentile equating procedures was investigated using statewide mathematics data from four states. Results suggest that the linkings are not sufficiently trustworthy to make comparisons based on the tails of the distribution.…

An overview is given of the consensus process for development of the frameworks underlying the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments, with emphasis on those for the 1990 and 1992 mathematics assessments, the 1992 reading assessment, and the 1994 science assessments. Innovative techniques for 1992 are described. (SLD)

Several recent national initiatives by both professional associations and public agencies provide measurable health objectives and suggestions for educational activities in geriatric oral health promotion. These can be used to evaluate current educational programs in geriatric dentistry and to plan programs and health promotion activities to meet…

Alternative strategies currently used to study educational productivity and the dominant conception of the educational productivity process that underlies many current studies are described. A new line of research is advocated to generate insight into fundamental aspects of education production processes, emphasizing the classroom as the unit of…

Education research is seen as increasingly integral to education policy and practice, and must contribute to achieving national educational improvement objectives. Urges educational researchers to assume a leading role in restructuring American education in the 1990s by turning their attention to the following four priorities: (1) assessment; (2)…

Evaluating restructured education involves the following four roles or functions: (1) goal refinement; (2) documentation; (3) formative experimentation; and (4) impact assessment. Brief discussions of specific evaluation methods and design issues are provided. Formidable challenges involved in improving evaluation and, ultimately, education in…

Reviews the basic precepts of environmental education (EE) summarizing state-level efforts directed at its establishment. Discusses an EE plan with a 3-year scope and sequence for middle school students along with other suggestions for systematically incorporating EE into K-12 curriculum. Examines curricular frameworks, program characteristics,…

It is proposed that criteria for evaluating the quality of performance should be defined, at least tentatively, during the initial design of a performance assessment. Six characteristics of sound criteria are (1) significance; (2) fidelity; (3) generalizability; (4) developmental appropriateness; (5) accessibility; and (6) utility. (SLD)

Contends that U.S. schools are putting too much time, money, and effort into testing rather than teaching and learning. Predicts that educational assessment will become more performance-based, more closely linked to instruction, and increasingly tied to technology. Offers nine criteria for an effective nationwide assessment system and briefly…