Normal Curve Equivalents (NCEs), a new score system for standardized tests, are used by school districts in reporting results to federal funding agencies. The author uses a quiz format to answer questions on the use of NCE scores. (EGS)

The purpose of this research is to compare American and Albanian students' achievement in Algebra 1 and to identify the educational practices that influence students' achievement in each country. The study compared algebraic solving abilities of 242 ninth-grade American students in Grand Forks (U.S.) and 219 students in Durres (Albania). The data…

Austin Partners in Education, a nonprofit organization, helps the community and AISD classrooms work together to ensure academic excellence and personal success for students. Academic outcomes, student engagement, and other variables for school year 2008-2009 were examined in this report.

This paper reports on research involving American College of Education students in relation to their impressions of, reactions to, and engagement with democracy. Four themes are explored: the conceptualization of democracy; the democratic educational experience of teachers; the concern about teaching controversial issues; and the understanding of,…

The author reviews the advantages and disadvantages of standardized reading tests, with special reference to the new national reading tests designed by the Assessment of Performance Unit of the Department of Education and Science. (SJL)

Describes a computer program which will randomly select questions and change the arrangement of answers each time the program is run, providing realistic practice for standardized test-taking. A listing of the program is provided in AppleSoft BASIC, and modifications for the IBM-PC are included. (LP)

This document presents a sample test form for high school reading and comprehension proficiency. The first section of the exam consists of 27 questions taken from 7 selections, which included 4 literature and poetry selections and the following nonfiction titles: Procedures for Answering a Call, Just the Facts, Garlic, and Pot Roast with…

The notion of "linguistic profile" as an alternative to standardized testing for speech and language disorders is discussed in this tutorial. Two specific examples of profiles, both for disordered phonology, are described, and readers are guided through their use. Finally, their relative strengths and weaknesses are assessed. (Author/CR)

A tuition-free, vocational, English as a second language (ESL) program offered at a large community college suffers from high attrition as well as student dissatisfaction with curriculum. The purpose of this quasi-experimental, longitudinal study was to assess the effectiveness of a specific ESL curriculum supplement as an intervention to…

This study investigates the effects of integrating literacy instruction with biology coursework on high school student learning. It would investigate the relationship between the growth in reading achievement and biology learning. It will target schools serving especially large populations of African American and Latino students. The project will…

The topic development process for the Educational Testing Service's Test of Written English (TWE) is described, along with the work of the Core Reader group and the procedures for reading and scoring the TWE. The TWE scoring guide (revised 2/90) is appended. (Contains 20 references.) (Author/LB)

This document contains parts of the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP). Rubrics and released items are provided for four levels and areas of the test including high school, grade 5, grade 8, and graphing items. (CCM)

The concurrent validity of the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts (BTBC) was investigated by comparing it to two tests of linguistic abilities (Test of Auditory Comprehension of Language--TACL--and the Carrow Elicited Language Inventory--CELI) and five Piagetian tests of cognitive abilities (space, numeration, seriation, time, and classification) with…

This is the second volume of a two-volume report describing the results of a three-year evaluation study of the Right to Read Special Emphasis Project, which was undertaken to determine if intensive programs of reading instruction introduced at an early age could change patterns of reading achievement in schools where large numbers of students…

Contained in this packet on standardized tests and testing in English is a miscellany of materials written by students, teachers, researchers, test makers, and others about the uses, abuses, and misuses of standardized tests. The materials are not intended to be a definitive study of the standardized test in English but rather to provoke…