This article investigates the bias in regression coefficients caused by inconsistent aggregation of mean test scores by state from the Department of Education's table, "State Education Statistics." First theoretical calculations are used, then data are artifically aggregated from the High School and Beyond Sample. (Author/LMO)

Surveyed gifted education teachers' and supervisors' perceptions of current gifted reevaluation practices. Results showed most gifted educators were not in agreement with the practice of using gifted reevaluations to reestablish program eligibility. Instead, they would prefer to get information relevant to program evaluation, program planning, and…

Presents initial results from a survey of 910 Catholic high schools. Identifies positive school climate, high quality academic programs, and religious and values education as areas of excellence. Sees the development of Catholic identity, sense of community, and constituent involvement as major challenges. (DMM)

Summarizes findings from a National Catholic Educational Association study of the characteristics of excellent Catholic elementary schools. Highlights findings regarding philosophy, policies, leadership, curriculum, religious education, relationships, decision making, instructional methods and materials, finances, staffing, parents/community,…

The instructional auditor reviews school district policies, job descriptions, budget allocations, contract provisions, internal and external communications, instructional monitoring and delivery systems, elections, student characteristics, personnel characteristics, and administrative authority as these factors affect a district's instructional…

This paper represents a tribute to the career of Ralph Winfred Tyler, whose publication "Constructing Achievement Tests" served as the basis for most of the major efforts in evaluation since 1934. Tyler's career is traced from his doctoral studies at the University of Chicago to his guidelines for national assessment. (LMO)

This paper serves a dual purpose: (1) it provides a framework for the more specialized papers of this journal issue, which surveys the state of educational assessment and evaluation in the Federal Republic of Germany; and (2) it illustrates the controversial developments that have led to the present state of educational measurement. (PN)

The purpose of this Handbook is to assist educators in understanding grade level of achievement (GLA), the role it plays in communicating student learning, and how to effectively implement the reporting of grade level of achievement for students enrolled in grades one through nine to Alberta Education as an adjunct to the on-going reporting to…

This book explores how standards are bringing about changes in elementary schools and conveys what standards-based education in elementary schools looks and feels like. Chapter 1 tells the story of Andrew as an emblem of the common fate of children in an educational system that did not know its purpose. Chapter 2 sketches the history and…

Previous studies of the validity of gains on high-stakes tests have compared trends in scores on a high-stakes test to trends on a lower-stakes test, such as NAEP. However, generalizability of gains is likely to be incomplete even when gains are meaningful because of differences in the inferences the two tests are designed to support. Therefore,…

The major aspects of the Russian educational system were examined in terms of quality assurance. No part of the educational system in Russia is small enough to escape some form of assessment, measurement, comparison, audit, or classification as to quality. To describe the quality control system, the book begins with an overview of Russian…

A popular design in large-scale educational assessments is the balanced incomplete block design. The design assumes that the item pool is split into a set of blocks of items that are assigned to assessment booklets. This paper shows how the technique of 0-1 linear programming can be used to calculate a balanced incomplete block design. Several…

This publication attempts to provide fundamental theory about service-learning and learning communities, along with descriptions of best practices, lessons learned, and assessment strategies. The text is designed to provide resources to help readers offer service-learning experiences for their students. Learning communities are now commonly…

In educational assessment, what students say, do, and sometimes make is observed, and assessors attempt to infer what students know, can do, or have accomplished more generally. Some links in the chain of inference depend on statistical models and probability-based reasoning, and it is with these links that terms such as validity, reliability, and…

Describing the types and uses of tests may seem to be an easy task, but it is not as straightforward as it may first appear. Tests vary on many different characteristics, are used in many different ways, cross the typical assessment categories, and in some cases are so unique as to from a category unto themselves. This chapter explores many…