The issue of test utility in measuring what students actually know has stimulated movement toward alternative, more authentic (and expensive) assessment approaches. Norm-referenced and authentic tests can complement each other, if educators build on youngsters' existing skills. The District of Columbia Public Schools' D.C. 2000 project stresses…

The High/Scope curriculum differs radically from typical K-3 teacher-directed instruction in emphasizing the child as a self-initiating active learner. This curriculum differs from other child-centered curricula by using cognitive-development theory to stress problem-solving and independent thinking, rather than social development and…

Talented students (n=520) in grades three through five were given the Quantitative, Reading Comprehension, and Verbal sections of the Lower Level of the Secondary School Admission Test (developed for fifth through seventh graders). Students' scores covered nearly the entire possible range indicating that the SSAT-L effectively differentiated among…

Reviews development of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and describes its current status. A central issue is deciding exactly what to assess in each school subject at each grade level. Currently, NAEP is a low-stakes test with questionable policy relevance. Other problems surround NAEP proficiency scale interpretations and…

Reviews issues faced by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools in developing a predictor exam when the exam is designed for U.S.-educated nurses. Describes issues surrounding the administration of a predictive exam internationally. (JOW)

Provides an overview of the approaches being attempted by reading educators to revise reading assessment based on what it can be, rather than what it is. (MG)

Reviews commercially available instruments to assess students' study skills/habits/behavior, finding that none completely meets the standards set by the American Psychological Association or the American Educational Research Association. Offers guidance on selecting and applying these instruments in college settings. (DMM)

Evaluation of 252 children with specific language impairments found varying degrees of congruence between clinically identified children and those identified using discrepancy, deficit, and standardized operational criteria. Results suggest that the global concept of a "specific language impairment" may not be a useful concept for either…

Studies in five senior medical school classes at Southern Illinois University investigated whether using multiple standardized patients to simulate the same case in postclerkship medical student evaluation affects the measure's reliability. Results of three studies show little or no effect on reliability of total, checklist, or written test…

Provides an overview of curriculum-based assessment (CBA). Lists the steps to develop a CBA and provides a sample CBA. Explains how to analyze CBA results. Specific reasons to support the use of CBA instead of standardized tests in the regular classroom are detailed. (JS)

Describes changes being made in the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and other standardized tests. Highlights include a history of standardized college entrance testing; the change process of the SAT; descriptions of the new SAT I Reasoning Tests and SAT II Subject Tests; comparisons between the old and the new SAT; and future possibilities. (LRW)

Reading instruction can be transformed into cynical test-beating exercises. Victory arises from frequent practice in taking similar tests. Students who spend most of their time on test-type activities generally do better on reading tests than those who "waste" time reading for information or pleasure. Teachers whose students score highest on…

Criticizes the William Bennett/Emily Feistritzer "Report Card on American Education 1993" for misrepresenting the "crisis" condition of U.S. education. State rankings of SAT scores flatten data and exaggerate differences. Bennett also ignores influence of limited English proficiency, poverty, and percentage of test-takers on…

Describes one Georgia high school's attempt to bridge the gap between quality instruction and standardized assessment. Outlines the school's continuous improvement plan to raise test scores, based on research and including a three-pronged focus on the environment, test-taking skills and knowledge of students and teachers, and the curriculum. Notes…

To examine education characteristics associated with students' self-concepts, teachers observed 515 preadolescent students in 18 schools. Students with high self-concept were rated by teachers as being more popular, cooperative, and persistent; being leaders and less anxious; and having family support and high teacher expectations. Students with…