The use of indicators as tools for educational improvement is discussed. National indicators are limited in breadth and depth and are neither sensitive to differences across states nor detailed and specific enough to be useful to states. For indicators to contribute to the goals of local educational improvement, local agencies must define their…

About 30,000 students in Grades 1 through 12 in Jackson, Mississippi, were studied to determine the effectiveness of instruction for all major social groups represented by the student population during the 1986-87 school year. The California Achievement Test and course grades were used to obtain core data. Demographic data were obtained for…

Data from the Current Population Surveys (CPS) conducted by the Bureau of the Census in March 1986 and 1987 are presented, with tabulations and a short discussion of the basic trends provided. Summary data on years of school completed by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin are shown for 1986 and 1987. The detailed tables present data on years of…

To determine the analysis of variance among different assessments of teaching competencies shown by preservice education students as student teachers, 32 undergraduates certified in 1985 and 42 from 1986 were studied. Data were obtained on their self-evaluations of 25 teaching competencies. Evaluations by their cooperating teachers (35 in fall…

Eleven articles on the evaluation of educational television (ETV) in South Africa are provided. Under the heading "Theory" are: (1) "The Meaning of Evaluation and Its Practice" (D. Nevo); (2) "Criteria for Evaluating ETV: A Theoretical Framework" (R. Israeli); and (3) "Sources of Evaluation Criteria in Education,…

This manual, which is provided as a resource for Illinois School Districts and which incorporates some of the materials in the Alaska Department of Education's Assessment Handbook, is designed to meet the requirements of Public Act 84-126 and to help practitioners develop student assessment plans of local usefulness. Areas covered in the…

Guidelines for examiners administering the School Climate Survey (SCS), the Teacher Satisfaction Survey (TSS), the Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS), and the Parent Satisfaction Survey (PSS) of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) are provided. These four surveys are the initial result of research/development efforts by…

The history of assessment in South Dakota, the creation of the Assessment Program Team at South Dakota State University (SDSU), the rationale and purpose of assessment programs, and the initial findings from a 6-month assessment team analysis of assessment data at SDSU are highlighted. The data were collected during the first 2 years of SDSU's…

This is the first in a series of six monographs developed to help school district and building staff use and report Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test results. Determining the meaning and use of previous and current test results is a necessary part of a complete reporting process. The two major ways to use MEAP results are student…

If lack of excellence in the public schools is a problem, it does not follow naturally that teachers and their preparation are the only elements in society at fault. However, it may be that teachers and teacher preparation have not kept pace with societal changes and expectations. To most students it appears that the purpose of education is to…

Examination syllabi developed by the New Zealand Speech Board and designed to meet and supplement educational requirements at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels in schools, youth and recreational groups, theatre schools, speech and drama studios, and adult vocational training centers are outlined in this booklet. The introductory section…

Intended to help a rural Alberta (Canada) school district improve its policies on school attendance areas, this report delineates (1) current policies and procedures; (2) the institutional, social, and environmental context of these policies; (3) parents' concerns; (4) alternatives for improving the district's policies; and (5) recommendations.…

An assessment was conducted in 1983 of the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of California sixth and twelfth grade students in the area of computer technology. Cognitive test questions were written to conform to a set of objectives used in the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) curriculum; attitude questions were obtained…

Intended for teachers and administrators who wish to assess student oral communication needs before designing an appropriate program, this guide provides a review of tests for measuring acts of speaking and listening. The guide surveys and discusses procedures for assessing speaking and listening skills among school children and focuses on…

Developed from a comparison of the writing performance of eighth grade students in Delaware with a representative national group, this writing resource guide provides a detailed description of the state's writing assessment procedure and offers educators guidance in evaluating student writing and improving student writing skills. After describing…