This volume describes outstanding community college programs corresponding to the four categories in which programs were originally submitted to the National Council of Instructional Administrator's (NCIA) Annual Exemplary Initiative Awards. Section 1 includes the description of the program that won the award for Exemplary Initiatives in the…

The Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) has been underway since 1997. Since then, fourth grade students have been assessed annually on the Colorado Model Content Standards for Reading and Writing. In 1998, testing began on third grade reading. Over the course of time, other grades and subject areas will be phased in. In the fall of 1999,…

This study was designed to explore the validity of scores from a select-and-fill-in (SAFI) concept map assessment as a measure of 130 undergraduate students' connected understanding of introductory astronomy. Scores from SAFI maps created for this purpose possessed high internal consistency and showed large mean increases from the beginning to the…

Selections in this reader explore some current and influential thinking about learning and assessment. It provides a theoretical framework for considering past and current developments in research into the mind and learning. The chapters are: (1) "On Becoming Labeled--the Story of Adam" (R.P. McDermott); (2) "Reconstructing Educational Psychology"…

This textbook describes teaching behaviors and instructional issues that are central to the dynamics of effective learning environments for current and prospective teachers. The discussion includes managing student behavior and assessing student performance. The chapters are: (1) "Developing a Framework for Effective Teaching"; (2) "The Teacher as…

This report describes the 1997-99 biennium activities of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board. Part 1 provides an Agency Overview. Details are given on mission and purpose, cooperative relationships, the State Board, the State Board Staff, and WTCS Districts. Part 2 explores the 1997-99 Budget and Policy Actions. It discusses the…

This document contains a tool that defines elements of whole-school improvement that school leaders can put into effect at elementary through secondary school levels. The school principal, in collaboration with other members of the school council, can use it to prepare a school portfolio and school profile for self-study or needs assessment.…

This report proposes that not enough good data or research has been done to settle the debate over whether testing affects high school dropout rates. Advocates argue that the threat of missing out on a diploma or of being retained motivates students to work harder, resulting in higher academic achievement. Critics argue that failing a high school…

This study investigated the assessment and grading practices of 213 secondary science teachers representing urban, suburban, and rural schools. Teachers indicated the extent to which they used various factors in grading students, the types of assessments used, and the cognitive level of these assessments. The results indicate a wide variation in…

Measuring school and system performance presents a major challenge and opportunity for governments. The public is demanding stringent quality reviews to ensure that the multi-billion dollar education investment has the greatest possible impact on student learning. Current methods to evaluate system performance do not do a good job of demonstrating…

The North Carolina End-of-Grade (NCEOG) Test of Mathematics, Grade 8 was compared to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)--Grade 8 along three dimensions: technical, content, and cognitive. An expert panel of six judges (mathematics educators) examined the supporting documents, the content frameworks, the items, and actual test…

Scholars from psychology and education describe how the new rules of measurement work and how they differ from the old rules. The collection provides an integrated and comprehensive reference source concerned with contemporary issues and approaches in testing and measurement. The chapters are: (1) "Issues in the Measurement of Cognitive…

In the "Student-Centered Classroom Assessment" textbook, readers are offered many opportunities to reflect on classroom assessment ideas in relation to their own classroom assessment experiences. As a companion to that text, this book of case studies serves the same purposes, but in a way that calls for the application of ideas and strategies…

A symposium on educational evaluation was held to celebrate the career of Robert E. Stake. Contributions, which relate to many aspects of educational evaluation, include: (1) "The Issue of Advocacy in Evaluation" (Ernest House and Kenneth Howe); (2) "The Meaning of Bias" (Michael Scriven); (3) Commentary on Ernie House and…

This paper assesses how three schools' change capacity influenced the implementation of school reform, specifically Basic education, a renewed curriculum in the first phase of secondary education. It reports on a study that examined the relationship between the characteristics of Dutch schools and their staff, the actual use of change capacity…