Surveys members of the International Reading Association concerning current assessment practices. Finds that, although innovative assessment practices as well as those most often used tend to be more holistic/naturalistic in nature, some respondents listed standardized tests as an innovative approach for disabled readers. (RS)

Describes several standardized tests designed for adult literacy assessment, as well as informal assessment procedures, and promising developments for the future. (SR)

The topic development process for the Educational Testing Service's Test of Written English (TWE) is described, along with the work of the Core Reader group and the procedures for reading and scoring the TWE. The TWE scoring guide (revised 2/90) is appended. (Contains 20 references.) (Author/LB)

The California History-Social Science Framework seems less prescriptive than some other state curriculum guides and more open to individual teacher decision making. However, the framework's main audience appears to be textbook publishing companies. Reforms will be implemented not by knowledgeable teachers, but by sanctioned textbooks aligned with…

Major changes in the content and format, standard-setting procedures, and score reporting policies in the National Board of Medical Examiners' comprehensive Part I examination are described. The phase-in of the United States Medical Licensing Examination and implications for score use are also discussed. (Author/MSE)

The College Entrance Examination Board has not permitted calculator use on the Scholastic Aptitude Test because of unresolved concerns about equity, implications for test content, and logistical and security issues. Those issues no longer seem insurmountable, and significant changes are being introduced on many tests. (MSE)

A key part of President Bush's America 2000 strategy for achieving national education goals involves developing national standards for five core subjects and a new voluntary nationwide examination system. The New Standards Project envisions a new generation of student assessments that require performance tasks instead of "multiple guess"…

Key opinions at the National Education Association's annual conference included opposition to most kinds of standardized tests and to a federally mandated national test. Members advocated a children's bill of rights, urged more federal funding of education, and endorsed creation of a National Index of Educational Indicators. (MLF)

Discusses the evolution of library skills from information location skills to information processing skills and addresses the assessment of library information skills on three standardized achievement tests for high school students: the Iowa Tests of Educational Development, the Tests of Achievement and Proficiency, and the Comprehensive Tests of…

Summarizes article written in 1972 which concluded that most counselors were not using standardized tests well, because of intrinsic limitations of the tests and insufficient technical competence among counselors. Discusses methods to remedy situation that could be taken by both test developers and counselors. (NB)

Suggests that, to better gauge children's learning progress, teachers and schools should put less emphasis on standardized tests and more emphasis on continuous classroom assessment of students. (MDM)

A study of 81 bachelor of science in nursing students found a strong correlation between performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)and achievement on standardized National League for Nursing Achievement Tests. There was a significant relationship between NCLEX scores and grades in nursing courses.…

A professor submitted a passage on Native American literature for the reading comprehension section of a postgraduate standardized test. The passage (reproduced in full) points out the difficult questions that Native American literature poses about personal identity. The passage was rejected as potentially disturbing to Native American test…

Discusses appropriate goals for mathematics and science educators to focus on in order to boost academic achievement in the United States. Conclusions are based on data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). (DDR)

A study examined the relationship between the colleges students select initially to receive their college entrance examination scores (high-choice set) and their choice of institution to attend (college-of-enrollment). Data were drawn from records of 105,000 students taking the American College Testing (ACT) examination and enrolling in 1994. A…