The author reviews research to show that the Wechsler Scales (the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) can be grossly unrepresentative of the general population in identifying mental retardation. (CL)

Methodology texts argue and many researchers may believe that normality of distribution is a sufficient condition for inferring that interval scale measurement has been achieved. It has also been argued that ordinal measurements cannot be normally distributed. Counter examples and a general result show such reasoning to be fallacious. (Author/RH)

Secondary schools have been made the scapegoat for the decline in students' Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) scores. The responsibility rests on colleges and universities to upgrade their admission standards. (MLF)

In an interview, Educational Testing Service (ETS) President Gregory R. Anrig proposes making the standardized testing industry publicly accountable through adoption of standards modeled on guidelines established by three major professional associations. He also discusses criticisms of the testing industry and the future development of ETS. (PGD)

Illustrates how primary sources of test bias (instrument bias, item bias, and interpretation bias) can occur in a testing situation. Discusses how biases can be accounted for in testing decisions. Offers rationale for proper utilization of tests and makes a case for the renewal of test utilization in the classroom. (Author/NEC)

Discusses the inadequacy of three basic assumptions that school systems make in early identification of learning disabilities that (1) learning disabilities is a category relatively easy to define, (2) such identification can be done easily by trained professionals and paraprofessionals, and (3) prevention, in the form of intervention, naturally…

Stresses the need for examining the minimum competency testing movement in terms of: (1) the relationship between the goals of the curriculum and the content of such tests; (2) the concept of remediation; (3) the issue of discrimination; (4) open v secure (secret) testing: (5) the impact of standardized testing practices on early education. (GC)

Presents a brief historical overview of standardized testing in science including its purpose, consequences, characteristics, and evaluation. Provides a critique that is unique in that this study used national science standards to evaluate a state-mandated standardized science test. (Author/MM)

Responds to Richard Innes's criticism of his June 2002 "Kappan" article. (PKP)

Discusses the progress in accurate measurement of reading, the major challenges for reading researchers in developing better measures in reading, and significant developments in the near future. (RS)

Virginia Standards of Learning will not work for excellence or for equity. First, the big ideas of the disciplines get lost in the specificity; second, the rigidity in requiring students to meet standards at each grade level does not offer flexibility to schools and teachers to adapt time and instructional methods. Well-defined standards should be…

Discusses the ongoing debate among politicians and educators over the relative merits of standardized tests and authentic assessment. (JOW)

Hyperrationalization in educational policy creates problems in the imposition of standards by centralized authorities and pursuit of efficiency through standardized tests, based on the assumption that education can be routinized and mechanized. A humanistic alternative is to make students the focus of educational policy and practice. (Contains 33…

Identifies drawbacks of testing, especially high-stakes, standardized tests, and acknowledges pressures on teachers to acquiesce. Encourages teachers to focus on deep learning; use of higher-level questions, tasks, and projects; a wide range of materials; transfer of learning to other contexts; and ways to diffuse tension and build enthusiasm for…

In this evolving era of high-stakes testing, most parents and teachers are unaware of the relationship between strong information literacy curricula and increases in student achievement. Information-literacy skills provide students with a powerful set of tools they can use to solve all types of problems. A curriculum that emphasizes…