Describes the movement to make new assessments powerful levers for school improvement, restructuring, and accountability. Suggests the dangers posed by accountability-inspired external assessments. The primary condition for effective assessment is that teachers, principals, and the community be at the center of the assessment enterprise. Profiles…

Four issues associated with calculator-available assessments are discussed: (1) benefits and problems of calculator use; (2) components of various types of calculator-available assessments; (3) construction of calculator-available assessments; and (4) the need for additional examination of items included on calculator-available assessments. (SLD)

Used computer simulation to examine the reliability of interpretations for Kaufman's "intelligent testing" approach to the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (3rd ed.) (WISC-III). Findings indicate that factor index-score differences and other measures could not be interpreted with confidence. Argues that limitations of IQ testing…

Whenever performance assessment has been introduced into statewide testing programs, various potentially paralyzing difficulties have been encountered surrounding test accuracy, reliability, validity, or suitability. Programs in some states have been discontinued or placed in jeopardy. It is uncertain whether educators can overcome these problems…

This article describes Minnesota Computerized Adaptive Testing Language program code for using the MicroCAT 3.5 testing software to administer several types of self-adapted tests. Code is provided for: a basic self-adapted test; a self-adapted version of an adaptive mastery test; and a restricted self-adapted test. (Author/SLD)

This paper critically reviews the concept of multipotentiality as it is applied in the literature on gifted children. Findings from a study of 1,000 gifted students are cited; above-level assessment of abilities and preferences revealed markedly differentiated profiles for 95% of students studied, suggesting that the term…

Argues that reading comprehension is better measured in performance contexts than in decontextualized standardized tests (especially for the nonhearing) and that dialogue journal writing is a better method of testing reading comprehension. Five types of comprehension can be isolated in journals: propositions, questions, inferential messages,…

A social sciences paradigm for defining "wicked problems," which are aggressive but not clearly defined, is applied to the evaluation of college instruction. It is proposed that the construct is useful in planning for college faculty evaluation procedures and that prompt action is needed. (MSE)

Examines seven criticisms of standardized achievement tests, including their failure to promote student learning, predict individual students' performance, and match test content with curriculum content. However, a teacher's insights into her students' learning, combined with properly interpreted standardized test results, can provide a balanced…

Determined strength of relationship between social desirability, psychological distress, and consumer satisfaction with mental health treatment in 82 clients in therapy. Results indicated that both consumer satisfaction reports and psychological distress scores were contaminated by socially desirable responding. (Author/ABL)

Presuming that test scores can accurately reflect educational quality is naive and potentially dangerous. Sophisticated statistical procedures cannot fully separate the effects of confounding background variables (ethnicity, language proficiency, or poverty) from test scores. A broad-based assessment model relying on multiple indices and…

Standarized, multiple-choice tests have become the major criterion for a wide range of school decisions affecting student placement, curriculum format, and teaching style. Improved assessment will not reform education. The more insightful and powerful the assessment tool, the more damage is caused by its misuse. Includes 70 references. (MLH)

A recent study analyzing 6,942 items from the Stanford achievement batteries determined that few general cognitive operations were included in the items analyzed. The general cognitive operations that were found had little to do with the items' difficulty. Students are not being taught certain necessary, but untested, cognitive skills. Includes 23…

Examines practices that encourage false negatives and false positives on licensing and certification tests designed to protect the public. Recommends increasing the amount of testing or raising the required passing score for repeat test takers. (FMW)

Reviews two tests which highlight important trends in the assessment of learning disabilities, and presents potentially valuable, practical developments in assessment. Identifies the recurring problem of the lack of a theory, construct, or clear definition to guide the assessment of learning disabilities. (MG)