The Board of Regents of South Dakota's public colleges and universities decided in 1984 to implement a Value-Added Testing program (an exit test required for graduation) modelled on the Northeast Missouri State University plan. The plan was intended to increase student learning, improve curricular design, and encourage excellent teaching.…

Defines assessment as finding out where the problems are in a program for the purpose of eliminating them. Presents a method for developing a formal assessment plan in history including principles of assessment, program goals, and objectives. Suggests determining what is already done and what further assessment methods are desired. (DK)

Recent court decisions provide legal guidelines for the construction of teacher qualification tests. Such tests have often led to the rejection of a disproportionally large percentage of minority applicants. Boards of education have the right to establish tests and other standards pertaining to teacher employment. It is unlawful, however, for an…

Discusses whether scores achieved by college seniors on standardized tests such as Graduate Record Examination can express collegiate value added (knowledge, skills, and abilities added to students during undergraduate studies). Encourages professional organizations to serve as forums to arrive at consensus on how to explain efficacy of…

Considers equity issues of highstakes tests conducted by computer, including whether this new form of assessment actually helps level the playing field for students or represents a new cycle of assessment inequality. Two computer tests are assessed: Praxis I: Academic Skills Assessment; and the computerized version of the Graduate Record…