Critical thinking is a socially constructed, contextual process not well measured by standardized tests. Better, locally grounded methods are pre/posttest (scenario building), experiential (critical practice audit), behavioral (critical debate), and conversational (storytellers and detectives). (SK)

Results of a two-year longitudinal study show that the major predictor of first-grade success is not determined by written test scores, but by social competence demonstrated in interactive, peer-group settings. Manipulating objects, encountering languages, and learning while playing offer better learning readiness clues. Includes six references.…

Explores three issues to consider regarding statewide standardized tests in higher education: (1) existing statewide testing programs differ markedly from one another in nature and objectives, and it's important to know specifically how and why; (2) a range of substantial implementation issues will be present; and (3) there are promising…

Highlights some of the major questions facing the measurement community in deciding how to conceptualize validity in the revised "Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing" of the American Association for Educational Research, the American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education. Focuses…

Describes two less commonly used methods to summarize changes in test scores: (1) standardized growth estimates; and (2) effect sizes. Combines aspects of these approaches and applies them to the Iowa Test of Basic Skills to demonstrate the usefulness of a third method, termed "Expected Growth Size." Provides a template to calculate…

Applying microeconomic theory to No Child Left Behind predicts that its use of significant consequences for schools that do not reach 100% proficiency on rigorous standardized tests by 2014 will likely prevent most, if not all schools, from providing a high-quality education for their students. The central problem is cost. Quality assurance models…

In January 2004 the author published an article in the Kappan titled "The Test Mess." In it, he examined how the state and federal accountability and tests were going. It was clear at that time that tests and accountability were not going to disappear--or even diminish--as the central mechanisms of the national effort to improve…

Community colleges are increasingly pressed to develop assessment approaches of genuine value to students, faculty, and other stakeholders. Numerous institutional examples illustrate a set of principles for good practice in planning, implementing, and sustaining community college assessment.

In the last After the Bell column, the importance of algebraic thinking was discussed, with respect to a common practice used in scientific inquiry-the importance of rates. This column discusses the importance of functions in preparing students for empirical and experimental inquiry. Functions are not only a necessary mathematical tool for…

The use and scope of after-school programs (ASPs) have always varied with the local context. Historically, affluent families used ASPs to provide enrichment for their children. During the Civil Rights and Black Nationalist movements, African Americans used ASPs for cultural and educational activities. In recent times, ASPs have been used for…

This study investigated the multiple factors affecting English language learners' (ELLs) low reading achievement in standardized tests by exploring the complex, hierarchical relation in student, classroom, and school levels. The data used for this study was from National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), the reading portion of the National…

One of the purposes of this study was to examine whether or not the present and past standardized tests in the state of Texas had any positive impact on the writing abilities of the limited English proficient (LEP) Mexican-American students. Another objective of the study was to determine if one test was more effective than another. In this case,…

Nativity schools--there are over forty in urban areas throughout the United States--provide an important alternative to urban middle schools failing to provide their students with an adequate education. Nativity schools, which are privately funded, provide a year-round educational experience for at-risk urban children. They feature small classes,…

How did standardized tests become the measure of performance in our public schools? In this compelling work, Mark J. Garrison attempts to answer this question by analyzing the development of standardized testing, from the days of Horace Mann and Alfred Binet to the current scene. Approaching the issue from a sociohistorical perspective, the author…

This retrospective study was conducted to examine the relationship between selected variables and performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Data were collected from one hundred twenty graduates of a baccalaureate program; graduates completed either the traditional four-year track or an accelerated…