Standardized testing is an external control mechanism for K-12 public schools. Principals, nested between internal and external influences, must manage the tension created by testing's roles as both an internal improvement tool and as an external control mechanism. Five competing narratives, each shaped by author academic background, significantly…

Increasing students' academic success in postsecondary endeavors is an important goal for both high school and college institutions today. However, the standards for high school graduation and college readiness are not well aligned, and successful transition from high school to college is problematic for many students, particularly in math. This…

To meet the constantly changing needs of schools and diverse learners, educators must frequently monitor student learning, revise curricula, and improve instruction. Consequently, it is critical that careful analyses of student performance data are ongoing components of curriculum decision-making processes. The primary purpose of this study is to…

Over the past 10 years, since No Child Left Behind started pressuring school districts to focus on student test scores, many states have begun to consider student performance when evaluating teachers. This article will provide preventive measures of fairness and substantive due process to avoid potential teacher objections and gain teacher…

Results are presented from a mixed-method investigation into the effects of Block Schedule on student self-efficacy, attitude, and instructional practices within the context of mathematics. Students exposed to block schedule showed no change in attitude toward mathematics, whereas those on a traditional schedule demonstrated a significant…

Suggests how administrators can understand the functions and relative merits of standardized tests. Notes that effective testing involves identifying criteria to be tested, techniques for testing these criteria, and standards for evaluation results. Urges principals to encourage the development and improvement of teachers' evaluation skills to…

Decisions based on standardized tests are made everyday. It is not a question of whether tests should be used, but how. ( Author/MLF)

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)

Since intensive preparation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test can positively effect scores, coaching and tutoring centers are springing up to serve mainly middle class clients. This article describes a Northeastern University (Boston) model to counter this inequity by preparing Boston innercity students for the test. (MLH)

Reviews 12 studies to determine whether coaching improves student performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). While results are mixed, evidence suggests that coaching does not appreciably improve students' verbal or math scores. Factors such as test reliability and weighting SAT scores with high school records should be considered. Includes…

Explains achievement test scores, focusing on types, uses, meanings, and relative importance. Describes currently used scales, normal distribution curves, percentile ranks, grade equivalents, and other rating systems. Advises inclusion of more than one kind of standardized test score, since each provides different information. Includes three…

Reviews a dozen basic questions about passing scores on state-mandated competency testing programs for students, teachers, administrators, and other education personnel. Condemns the "cardiac" approach (or traditonal 80 percent standard) in favor of procedures that systematically incorporate judgment with a variety of performance data.…

The "high stakes" environment surrounding student performance on standardized achievement tests has pressured educators to improve test scores--in both appropriate and inappropriate ways. Convened to examine such testing practices, a National Council on Measurement in Education developed guidelines for managing ethical, instructional,…

The issue of test utility in measuring what students actually know has stimulated movement toward alternative, more authentic (and expensive) assessment approaches. Norm-referenced and authentic tests can complement each other, if educators build on youngsters' existing skills. The District of Columbia Public Schools' D.C. 2000 project stresses…