Data from research studies seem to support the validity of teacher judgments of student achievement; however, there are unresolved issues, including the focus of the judgment, the external validity or credibility of the assessment, and the process of the assessment itself. To achieve maximum benefits from this form of assessment/teaching…

Addressing concerns of some Alaska educators and parents about the fairness of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), this paper clarifies what can be expected of norm-referenced tests and examines the extent to which the results of the Alaska Statewide Student Assessment may be affected by test bias. Although some test items may ask questions…

Most of the federal government's support of disadvantaged young children has come through Head Start and Chapter 1 programs. Chapter 1 has mainly been used for pull-out remedial reading and mathematics programs in the elementary grades. The National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (NAECS/SDE) is…

A study evaluated the Michigan Test Battery as a placement tool and indicator of student performance at the college level for one continuing education intensive academic English program. Three issues were addressed: whether the test: (1) is being used correctly for program placement and exit; (2) is an accurate indicator of performance for…

This test administration plan sets forth the terms and conditions governing the administration of the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST), an instrument designed to measure the achievement of the communication and computation skills expected of all students by the time they complete their sophomore year. CLAST scores are required of all…

A key factor in the decline of Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores (a factor that has been overlooked) is the concurrent decline in the availability of textbooks. The simultaneous decline of both SAT scores and textbooks suggests a strong cause-and-effect relationship. A recent study by the Ohio Education Association indicated that there are…

A model for summarizing test scores and using them to modify instructional programs is presented. The proposed model consists of two types of summaries of the data gathered through standardized tests. The first summary contains individual and single class results. Information in a "Class Item Response Record" chart provides individual student…

High School GPA and Scholastic Aptitude Test V and M scales were used to predict college GPA for Mexican-American and Anglo-American college students. Results indicated that regression systems were essentially parallel for both groups, with virtually no difference in intercepts, though prediction of Anglo GPA appeared slightly more accurate.…

The scope of behavior modification may be expanded by the interaction between the modification of social and academic behaviors, manipulation of antecedent conditions in order to evoke reinforceable responses, use of controlling variables on a school-systemwide basis, and use of standardized tests as an additional dependent measure. Portions…

Court decisions show that whenever standardized tests are used, assurance must be given that cultural, racial, or ethnic group bias has been avoided. Multiple criteria for student placement are recommended. (DW)

The JMB, Syllabus B, O level oral examination in French is commented on by an ex-examiner. Mention is made of ways in which candidates lose marks and of the need for teachers to know more about the marking system. (RM)

The psychometric utility of six experimental cognitive style (CS) measures was analyzed. Examinees were 1,135 clients of the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation who, during 1985, completed at least one of the six CS tests. Information is provided on measure reliability; relationships among CS measures; relationships with standard battery aptitude…

The search for solutions to the perceived failures of American education of recent years indicates that the public senses there is something wrong with the educational system. Educators must examine testing in light of the fact that schools are getting poor results in terms of student achievement and, perhaps, change their view of what tests…

This digest discusses the integration of teaching and testing. The use of tests as instructional tools and administrative tools is discussed as well as teacher and administrator attitudes toward testing and teacher competency in interpreting test results. The term "tests" covers standardized tests of achievement and aptitude, less formal…