Program Analysis and Monitoring (PAM) in Writing is a decision-support tool which provides the principal with an informative report, the Program Analysis Report, that identifies needs and suggests solutions to problems in educational writing programs. The Report relates information on student achievement in writing to information on how resources…

This discussion of Pimlico School's self-assessment procedures focuses on methods used for reconciling student grades from mixed-ability and from ability-grouped classes into a valid picture of individual and schoolwide attainment. (SJL)

Addresses the problems of declining student performance as measured by standardized achievement test scores and attendant loss of confidence in public schools by offering nine specific ideas for stimulating significant gains in student achievement. (Author/WD)

The cautions needed for correctly interpreting grade equivalent scores are presented simply, for persons who are not statisticians. Four potential limitations of grade equivalent scores are summarized. (1) Comparisons across grades are of little value when the subject content is not the same; for example, sixth grade American history is not…

This article offers guidelines for determining equitable, accountable, and effective grading practices and policies for all students that balance the need for a common set of standards and the individual needs of the students. Purposes of grading, grading systems, and effective instructional practices that support grading processes are discussed.…

This paper proposes using nontest indicators, along with academic tests, to assess school effects on youth development. Relationships between indicators and tests are explored and examples presented of nontest indicators of intellectual development, career development, and health and personal safety. Data sources for indicators are…

Part of the Evaluation of Teaching Project (EOTP), this research report uses statistical analysis to examine: 1) whether students who had an opportunity to learn classroom material differ in posttest achievement from those students who did not have sufficient time to learn, 2) whether the relationships between teacher behaviors and student…

To ensure that every child receives appropriate educational and developmental support, professionals who make referrals and who rely on psychological test results need to understand what these tests measure. The principles behind psychological testing, the definitions of key terminology, and the ways in which psychologists interpret test data are…

This paper is designed to provide Iowa educators with information on reporting results of assessments of students with disabilities, including grading, diplomas, and transcripts. A question-and-answer format addresses: (1) indication of the provision of reasonable accommodations on students' report cards; (2) honor rolls; (3) pass/fail grading…

This guide presents the Future Farmers of America (FFA) 2000 Model of Innovation award winners' projects. Chapters demonstrated abilities to identify goals and objectives, create a workable plan of action, attain and evaluate results, and identify items learned and ways to improve. Chapter 1 discusses the FFA National Chapter Award program that…

This booklet describes the College Core Curriculum (CCC) program recently initiated at Phineas Banning Senior High School in Los Angeles, which is designed to encourage more students to become positive, effective learners and to better prepare them for postsecondary education. Following an outline of CCC's goals and a breakdown of its programs…

The technical and administrative processes and activities involved in scoring student responses to essay writing questions in the Massachusetts State Board of Education's basic skills program are outlined and discussed. After a general introduction to holistic scoring, separate sections describe the roles and activities of the administrators, the…

This book offers time-saving tips from teachers on writing effective report card comments. The book presents the best strategies, tips, and lists of useful phrases that encourage children and lists words to avoid. It is a resource that will allow teachers to collect assessment information easily and to describe students' performances clearly and…

Greater knowledge about the practical application of Rasch technology can help in avoiding misapplications and confusions in testing programs. Equal interval curriculum-based scaling makes possible the following improvements in measuring basic skills achievement by enabling testing programs to: (1) individualize the difficulty level of…

This guide for those in the "High Schools That Work" initiative is designed to help teachers use classroom assessment to motivate students to work harder to meet challenging standards; to get students to organize information, make interdisciplinary connections, synthesize new knowledge, and draw conclusions from what they learn; to…