This paper describes an assessment of community college student knowledge in the liberal arts at two-year colleges in Southern California. A survey instrument with multiple choice questions covering five liberal arts subject areas was distributed to 4,200 students in randomly selected classes at ten colleges. More than 2,500 questionnaires were…

Alternate assessments provide a mechanism for students with complex disabilities to be included in assessment systems. An integral part of maximizing the benefits of assessing students is to include the results of alternate assessments in school accountability systems. This report addresses policy options for including the results of alternate…

Home to several excellent universities and colleges, the Midwest has long benefited from the region's strong higher education system. However, with projected demographic changes and state support declines, institutions of higher learning face significant challenges in the years ahead. The author identifies two trends: (1) Increasing shift towards…

This agenda highlights the Consortium on Chicago School Research' priorities for Chicago school research during the 2004 to 2008 period, including both the continuation of current research and new explorations. This proposed research intends to assist CPS leadership, local schools, and the education reform community with evidence-based results…

Because NAEP estimates of state-level achievement play an important role in the evaluation of strategies for improving the nation's educational system, it is important that these estimates have as small a standard error as possible. NAEP estimates for state-level achievement are based on measurement of the performance of a random sample of…

Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have given all the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states a new tool to help focus their colleges and universities on state needs. These three states have created plans for their higher education institutions by drawing on leadership from a broad range of state agencies. They identified state needs and…

This handbook brings together contributions by scholars in the areas of psychometrics, assessment, and evaluation who have expertise in the application of testing and assessment in multicultural environments. The book provides a comprehensive view of various cultural issues and offers updated information pertaining to the usage of major…

The goal of the Maryland School Performance Program is for each school to offer an excellent education to its students. This report presents performance information for the 1995-96 school year and the evaluation criteria that provide the basis for school improvement. Published by the Maryland State Department of Education, the report contains…

This book is a collection of essays that deal with 10 current controversial issues. The issues are also the topics of 10 recent fastbacks from the Phi Delta Kappa fastback series published between 1993 and 1996. Following the introduction, the articles include the following: (1) "Accountability" (Jack Frymier); (2) "Assessment…

This ERIC Digest outlines the methods employed and the results obtained from the 1994 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in U.S. history. NAEP surveys collect information about students' knowledge of core subjects of the school curriculum. This particular survey was administered to a national sample of students in grades 4, 8, and…

In developmental assessment, teachers monitor student progress against a map of developing skills, knowledge, and understanding. Portfolio assessment is a tool to use in developmental assessment, and there are many types of portfolios to support developmental assessment of students. When considering a portfolio type, it is important to consider…

Performance assessment is the assessment of students engaged in an activity. It is the on-the-spot evaluation of a performance, behavior, or interaction. Ordinarily, there is no concrete product that can be judged at a later date. In Developmental Assessment, teachers monitor student progress against a preconstructed map of developing skills,…

Projects are extended pieces of work completed over a period of time. They provide contexts for the assessment of general skills, as well as the ability to apply subject-specific knowledge and skills. Some of the general skills that projects demonstrate are collecting and organizing information, solving problems, working in a group, and…

This paper is concerned with the assessability of metacognition, asserting that unless metacognition can be assessed, then it will never be considered a legitimate part of curriculum. The paper focuses on a pilot study conducted with grade-six students in the curriculum domain of mathematics. It reports the results of student questionnaires and…

This book about curriculum in American schools is centered on answering questions regarding placing curriculum within the context of schools and school systems, and presenting ideas regarding world-class standards and continuous improvement. Curriculum cannot be allowed to become simply the means to separate the haves from the have-nots based on…