Assessing educational outcomes is a matter of great importance for everyone in a society that relies primarily on public schools to shape the next generation of citizens. Given the vital nature of this task, it is imperative that the researchers who undertake it have an informed understanding of the measures used to evaluate educational outcomes.…

This study examined the characteristics of 10 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused high schools. A comparative case designed was used to identify key components of STEM school designs. Schools were selected from various regions across the United States. Data collected included websites, national statistics database,…

The need for effective teachers is growing while national and state standards are putting ever-increasing demands on teachers and raising expectations for student achievement. Low science and mathematics standardized test scores, particularly in the middle grades, reflect unprepared adolescents, perhaps because of ineffective teaching strategies…

Since 1969, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has been the common yardstick for measuring the progress of students' education over time across the country. Teachers, principals, parents, policymakers, and researchers all use NAEP results to assess progress and develop ways to improve education in America. To make the…

Published annually since 1997, Newark Kids Count tracks key trends in child health and well-being in New Jersey's largest city with the latest statistics available. Newark Kids Count includes the latest statistics, along with five-year trend data, in the following areas: population and demographics, family economic security, affordable housing,…

Literature relating summarization skills to reading improvement and to test score gains is reviewed, and two new studies are reported. One study compared gain on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of two groups of students, one (n=7 students) receiving instruction in summarizing skills and the other (n=14) receiving TOEFL…

This document contains parts of the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP). Rubrics and released items are provided for four levels and areas of the test including high school, grade 5, grade 8, and graphing items. (CCM)

One hundred and sixty male high school students, half of them Mexican-American and half Anglo, were administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT), and Bender Gestalt. Half of each ethnic group was classified by the public schools as learning disabled and half were in regular classes. The WAIS Verbal,…

This paper compares the 1972 Norms Edition of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Form LM, and the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children, Revised (1974) from a practitioner's viewpoint. The instruments are compared in relation to (a) standardization data given in the manuals, (b) ease of administration and interpretation, (c) age-range…

Examines the present grading system, including its purposes, usefulness and failures, and presents some alternative systems. (RC)

Overall findings were interpreted from a developmental perspective, and the data were shown to offer evidence for the contruct validity of the MSCA. (Author/RC)

Students in a high school biology course were assigned to an audio-tutorial instruction group or a group classroom situation for a three-week instructional unit. For each group scores on a unit test were correlated with scores on standardized tests. (SD)

Provides a summary of two studies that attempted to isolate factors affecting academic achievement. The results tell which factors researchers believe school boards can and cannot control, and relate each determinant to the specific policy area through which boards can exert influence. (Author/IRT)

An investigation of performance on a standardized test of self concept with matched samples of normal and retarded readers. Self concept test performance was found to be significantly and negatively related to age, school grade and each measure of achievement. (Author/SDH)

This column examines the Cambridge English Examinations and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The changes made to these tests are discussed. (SW)