This study was conducted to determine whether changes from traditional organizational patterns in elementary schools make a difference in reading achievement. The study was conducted through comparisons of student populations in three suburban schools. Two schools were experimental (one nongraded, one open space), and the third was a traditional…

Describes a field test of the "Diagnostic Test of Computational Skills." Examines whether or not a computer can efficiently analyze student answers, previously unidentified computational error patterns and errors related to student use of microcomputers. Concludes that this method can be useful for immediate and accurate diagnostic information.…

The central purpose of this book is to help leaders and professionals in government, education, business, philanthropies, and the media think about what needs to be done to ensure that minorities reach educational parity with the majority population as soon as possible. Chapter 1 discusses society's interest in the educational advancement of…

Many British students with severe learning difficulties cannot realistically be expected to complete Level 1 requirements of the National Curriculum. These students remain marooned on Level 1 and become failures through continual comparison with higher achieving peers. They should be offered appropriate non-National Curriculum programs of study…

Adult literacy programs need reliable information about program quality and effectiveness for accountability, improvement of practice, and expansion of knowledge. Evaluation and assessment reflect fundamental beliefs about adult learners, concepts of literacy, and educational settings. Resources for planning program evaluations include surveys,…

Trends in quantitative facts relevant to public education in South Carolina are provided for the 1988-89 school year along with information beginning with the reference year of 1969-70. Twenty-six tables contain statewide information on enrollment, educational finances, programs, and test scores. Thirty-three other tables provide district…

This paper examines: (1) what those who directly employ and educate America's students after they leave high school think of the quality of the U.S. elementary and secondary schools; (2) what recent students and their parents think of the quality of the education they or their children received; and (3) what a cross section of Americans think…

This position paper addresses the creation of a new category of eligibility for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, "Developmental Delay," which would only be applicable to children ages 3 to 5. Such a classification would address concerns about labeling young children, lack of confidence in assessment…

This document is a compendium of reports prepared for presentation to each of North Carolina's 134 local school systems by the State Board of Education. Each report summarizes student performance in the system for 1989-90 in table and graph form and permits a comparison with student performance in preceding years. These reports satisfy a state…

This report provides information about the performance of 1991 graduating seniors nationwide who took the American College Testing (ACT) Program Assessment as juniors or seniors. All the average scores in this report are on the scale for the Enhanced ACT Assessment, which was introduced in October 1989. Averages for 1987-89 are based on scores…

A dual screening device for teacher preparation programs was mandated by the Texas legislature in 1981. The two requirements included passing an entrance examination upon application to a teacher education program, and passing a proficiency examination upon completion of the program. The state must produce competent, well-prepared teachers; train…

This report provides Minnesota legislators with background information on establishing state educational standards and periodic testing to measure student progress. Scientific management, the accountability movement, and the basic education movement were educational trends of the 1970's providing pressure on states to set standards to improve…

A process policy model that contains a broad range of categories and matrices that can be used to generate questions is used to analyze the development and application of selected segments of the South Carolina Educator Improvement Act. This act is a comprehensive legislative endeavor to upgrade public education in South Carolina. This paper…

This document reports on a study which explored the major field preferences of top-scoring Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) examinees over the past decade, focusing especially on the numbers choosing to major in mathematics, science, and engineering. The major findings included: (1) the proportion of top-scoring examinees planning to major in…

California law requires sponsors of standardized tests used for admission or placement purposes in higher education to report certain data annually. Data on each of the 10 batteries of standardized tests affected by the law in 1987-88 are reported, and mean test scores are displayed for students nationally and in California if those averages are…