Both school and district administrators use the results of standardized, large-scale tests to inform decisions about the need for, or success of, educational programs and interventions. However, test results at the school level are subject to random fluctuations due to changes in cohort, test items, and other factors outside of the school's…

Increasing linguistic diversity in classrooms has led researchers to examine the validity and fairness of standardized achievement tests, specifically concerning whether test score interpretations are free of bias and score use is fair for all students. This study examined whether mathematics achievement test items that contain complex language…

Downward trends in Ontario's math achievement have raised concerns about the need for effective identification of students struggling to meet math achievement standards. This study identified latent profiles from math achievement patterns of students from Grades 3 to 6, examining how specific language and literacy characteristics predicted profile…

In response to international standardized testing, many countries are examining mathematics education at virtually every level of instruction. Canada is no exception. Declines in mathematics scores in some international standardized tests have raised concerns amongst some stakeholders that a crisis may be unfolding with respect to the readiness of…

Current quantitative gender and mathematics research exists as separate ability and postsecondary access studies, each drawing different conclusions. But if gender, achievement and enrollment (measurable proxies) are modeled together it will be possible to investigate possible associations. Using 106,473 standardized Grades 3, 6 and 9 Ontario…

The pilot research presented here explores the classroom use of Emerging Literacy in Mathematics (ELM) software, a research-based bilingual interactive multimedia instructional tool, and its potential to develop emerging numeracy skills. At the time of the study, a central theme of early mathematics curricula, "Number Concept," was fully…

This study investigated accommodations for students without disabilities in order to fill critical gaps in both knowledge and practices in fields of special education and educational assessments. In Ontario, students at different grade levels were assessed by the provincial assessments developed by the Education Quality and Accountability Office…

This study investigated the effects of immigration and home language on academic achievement over time. Using data from Ontario's Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics administered to the same students in Grades 3 and 6, logistic regression was used to predict if students achieved proficiency in Grade 6 if they were not proficient in…

Measurement invariance is a common consideration in the evaluation of the validity and fairness of test scores when the tested population contains distinct groups of examinees, such as examinees receiving different forms of a translated test. Measurement invariance in polytomous items has traditionally been evaluated at the item-level,…

This submission contains the Proceedings of the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group (CMESG), held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. The CMESG is a group of mathematicians and mathematics educators who meet annually to discuss mathematics education issues at all levels of learning. The aims of the…

Using data from the Longitudinal Study of Mathematics Participation (N = 1,518 students from 34 schools), we investigated the effects of pure and applied mathematics courses on mathematics achievement, controlling for prior mathematics achievement. Results of multilevel modelling showed that the effects of pure mathematics were significant after…

Examines gender and rural-urban differences in achievement and macro- and micro-skills in mathematics. A representative sample of classrooms consisting of 1587 students from a mid-western Canadian province was administered a standardized achievement test battery. Concludes females scored better than males in all areas except mathematics and…

This study investigated the possible impacts of language and curriculum differences on the performance of test items by subpopulations of students. Focusing on Measurement and Geometry items completed by students in French- and English-language schools in Ontario made it possible to explore the differences and to compare the item response theory…

Results of the Diploma Examinations Program conducted by Alberta Education during June 1989 are provided. This report is designed to assist policymakers and educators in reviewing the effectiveness of their programs and in reinforcing instructional successes previously achieved. The grade 12 program is intended to develop and maintain excellence…

This report assesses the results of the administration, during June of 1987, of the Grade 12 diploma examinations in the Province of Alberta, Canada. Most of the data is tabulated. The examination program consists of course-specific examinations that are based on the prescribed Program of Studies for Senior High Schools for the following courses:…