Discusses how listening is now being tested as three separate abilities, how test validity is affected by administration factors, criticisms of listening skills tests currently available, and criteria for development of reliable and valid listening tests. (MBR)

Discusses (1) perspectives from which standardized test developers, users, and interpreters must consider test results; (2) test components that affect student test performance; (3) test abuses that contribute to the shortening of tests; and (4) how educators can effect a change in the increased reliance on standardized tests. (HTH)

Performance tests should be required for certification of all public and private school teachers. Tests that are validated against actual job performance--which evaluate actual knowledge, skills, and professional ethics that produce educational and social benefits--should be used. (CJB)

This critique, of Cummings and Moscato's review (TM 508 777) of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability (WJTCA) argues that the WJTCA is biased toward achievement resulting in a discrepancy of scores for learning disabled students. This bias is incompatible with the aptitude/achievement discrepancy model of specific learning disabilities.…

Studies examining the performance of American Indian children on the Wechsler instruments are reviewed to provide the basis for an examination of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised research. Factors that potentially influence Indian performance on the Wechsler are presented. Suggestions for interpretation of the Wechsler Intelligence…

The authors believe the McShane and Plas literature review (TM 508 781) did not critically examine the methodological or theoretical problems in the cited studies. This uncritical examination resulted in a profile of Native American performance which did not control for English language fluency or for normal versus handicapped Indian populations.…

To date, appropriate diagnostic instruments for preschool children have been insufficient to fill the demands. Since the majority of published test instruments for preschoolers address speech (verbal) development, the following discussion is limited to the problems and techniques of speech diagnosis. (PN)

Describes two modifications to the SMOG Readability Formula designed to make it more useful for primary and intermediate grade materials. (FL)

To measure pupils' inconsistency in replying to a self-report questionnaire regarding attitudes toward school, 6,000 elementary and secondary school students participated in a nation-wide project to construct and validate the Israeli Quality of School Life Questionnaire (IQSL). (PN)

Stresses the importance of systematically determining children's language dominance before enrolling them in bilingual programs, and evaluates a variety of methods used to determine language dominance. A table listing 25 aural and oral instruments (including rating scales, interview schedules, and parallel tests) is provided. (CW)

A breakdown in communication takes place when the receiver uses different relations when processing the data through the intellect. College on-trial students (N=53) were tested with the SAT battery and a significant difference was found between their performance on the mathematic and verbal sections. (Author)

This document comments on the future of educational testing in the United States and the plans of the Bush administration for increased use of testing for educational accountability. The "achievement gap" does not appear to be closing. One of the keys to closing the gap is having the data to understand it so that teachers can use test…

The widely used Woodcock Johnson (WJ) Test of Achievement has been separated into two distinct tests, Achievement and Cognitive Abilities. This book is designed to help busy mental health professionals acquire the knowledge and skills they need to use the third revision of the WJ Tests of Achievement (WJ III ACH) , including administration,…

Current practices for assessment of language in bilingual students frequently involve the use of tests translated from English to the target language or tests designed for, and normed on, monolingual people. This Digest explains why these common approaches are not well suited for a bilingual population and provides guidance regarding more suitable…