After explaining why more choice among schools is a good idea, this paper provides details and evaluations of state plans for increasing choice in schools, delineates the characteristics of a desirable school choice plan, and advises parents on choosing schools. Current school choice policies in the following states are briefly summarized: Alaska,…

A compilation of six committee reports and preliminary recommendations based on a statewide study of the status of Japanese language and culture in Wisconsin, these reports identify plans that are in various stages of development for inclusion in public school secondary school programs. The first report contains recommendations for: (1) the…

In the spring of 1985, the Oregon Department of Education conducted an assessment of eighth grade students' skills in writing, reading, and mathematics. This report provides results for the mathematics portion of the assessment under these headings: (1) arithmetic skills; (2) estimation; (3) geometry and measurement; (4) application; (5)…

A dilemma arises in the attempt to establish procedures for valid assessment of academic learning. Measures of learning with high pedagogical validity often have poor psychometric properties. Conversely, tests that are well-constructed by psychometric standards may succeed in sorting and ordering students or schools, but have little pedagogical…

Because not all approaches to evaluating pupil achievement evaluate in the same facets of development, many methods are necessary to assess learner achievement in the different curriculum areas of the elementary school. This paper examines methods of evaluating pupil achievement, including: work samples, checklists, rating scales, sociometric…

The Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS) Exit Level Reading Test is based on ten behavioral objectives that fall under six skill areas. Satisfactory performance on this test is required for high school graduation in Texas. This document, intended for teachers and test developers, presents general testing instructions and…

These proceedings consist of the following presentations and discussion papers: "Extension Research Needs in Evalaution" (Michael Patton); "Needed Research in Program Development" (Roger Lawrence); "The Cooperative Extension Service: A National Assessment" (Paul Warner); "National Study of Extension's Research…

Containing the results of Oregon's second statewide analytical writing assessment, this document summarizes the procedures used to evaluate the writing skills of 4,567 eighth graders from 55 schools and analyzes the results. Following an introduction that includes comments from the scoring team, chapter 1 presents a brief history of writing…

In an examination of the meaning and measurement of quality in the undergraduate experience, quality is compared with the conceptually similar but distinct concepts of adequacy and excellence. Most of the conceptual frameworks available for assessing quality are essentially unidimensional assessment strategies that rely almost exclusively on…

A bibliography of approximately 150 materials authored, coauthored, or edited by Howard R. Bowen from 1935 through 1982 on the economics of American higher education is presented. Specific topics include the following: the wide disparity among colleges in educational cost per student; costs colleges spend per student; adult learning, higher…

The 1982 British Columbia Science Assessment was designed to gather information from the professional literature, review panels, interpretation panels, teachers, and students enrolled in grades 4, 8, and 12 (and a sample from grade 10). This pamphlet provides brief answers to nine questions related to the assessment. These questions focus on: (1)…

Item response model applications to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data specifically aimed at the uses of item response models in mathematics item banking are discussed. Approaches for addressing goodness of fit were organized into three categories: Checks on model assumptions, expected features, and additional model…

Speeches, panel discussions, and a debate from the 1981 Oklahoma Conference on Education are presented. The topics of the speeches are: (1) administrative decision making in institutions of higher education and the effects of state legislation (Barbara Uehling); (2) experiences of an American hostage in Iran and subsequent feelings about the…

This is a report of a study designed to evaluate the one-classroom school in Egypt. The one-classroom school was designed for remote areas to provide compulsory education for children 6-8 years old and a new opportunity for education for those who dropped out or failed formal school. The schools were established in 1975-76 and the evaluation was…

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of nonschool economic education programs, using as specific examples three Ohio companies--The Timken Company, B. F. Goodrich, and TRW. The objectives and content of the economic programs that each of these company offers it employees are described, and the procedures used to evaluate each…