The effect of a basic competency education program on the achievement of high, average, and low-achieving students was examined for the Alabama Basic Competency Education program (BCE). California Achievement Tests scores in reading, mathematics, and language were examined for 3 years prior to initiation of the BCE program and for 3 years…

The "Test of Economic Literacy" was used to assess the economics knowledge of students enrolled in five Kentucky vocational high schools. The test was to determine if economics instruction should be instituted in vocational schools. Neither age group nor gender was found to be a significant factor in student achievement, but the number…

Information on the achievement of students in Southern States is presented, based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). State profiles are presented for 12 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states, plus Maryland and Texas. A 1984-1985 SREB pilot project with the National Assessment of Educational Progress is also…

The impact of admission criteria to teacher education programs in Alabama and the impact of a recently established exit examination required for certification were examined. Current admission criteria included: (1) completion of 60 semester hours of the approved general studies program with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 1.2 on a 3.0…

In 1982-83, Riverside Unified School District (California) selected an achievement test to provide both norm- and criterion-referenced (dual objective) data for its achievement testing program. The test selection process was focused around eight evaluation aspects: prescreening of tests, content matching, instructional evaluation, processing…

Approximately 60,000 Delaware public school students in grades 1 through 8 and in grade 11 were administered a battery of achievement tests as part of the state-funded Delaware Educational Assessment Program (DEAP) in 1986. This was the second administration of the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS), in reading, language arts, and…

This document presents five scenarios, each referring to a means of assessing learning. These examples are then used to discuss pitfalls faced when tests are used to assess learning, and the conclusion is reached that testing should play a supportive role only, not a major role in the quest for excellence. Effective schools research shows that…

This 32-item bibliography was compiled to provide access to research and discussions of domain referenced testing. It is not limited to any educational level, nor is it confined to any specific curriculum area. Five data bases were searched by computer. A computer search of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) data base yielded…

A recent California Supreme Court ruling required San Diego Unified School District to implement a course of study in its minority isolated schools that would result in 50 percent of the students achieving at or above national norms on the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. In response to the court order, the district initiated the Achievement…

The RMC Research Corporation evaluation model C1--the special regression model (SRM)--was evaluated through a series of computer simulations and compared with an alternative model, the norm referenced model (NRM). Using local data and national norm data to determine reasonable values for sample size and pretest posttest correlation parameters, the…

Latent trait models may offer considerable potential for the improvement of educational measurement practices, but until recently, they have received only limited attention from measurement specialists. This paper provides a brief introduction to latent trait models, and provides test practitioners with a non-technical introduction to the…

A reading supplement to provide background material for "A Handbook on Evaluation for Title IV Indian Education Projects", this document describes and defines the following: (1) needs assessment (definition and purpose; relation of needs to Indian Education Act; approaches; surveying--population sampling, kinds of questions, etc.; group…

While much has been written on the topic of criterion-referenced testing and consequently its comparison with norm-referenced testing, measurement specialists have not as readily approached the subject of the implications involved in reporting such test information. The purposes of this paper are to (1) draw distinctions between criterion and…

Objective-based assessment, known as criterion referenced testing, relies on the development of test items related directly to instructional objectives and incorporated into instruments for which predetermined criterion standards have been set. This bibliography attempts to provide in a somewhat systematic fashion, selected references concerning…

Outlined in this manual is Canada's first National Test of Physical Fitness. Each test item is a valid and reliable measure of fitness, simple enough for any teacher not trained in fitness measurement to administer. Each of the six tests measures a different aspect of fitness: (1) the one-minute speed sit-up tests the strength and endurance of the…