Current empirical evidence indicates poor learning trajectories for students with early literacy skill deficits. As such, reliable and valid detection of at-risk students through regular screening and progress monitoring is imperative. This study investigated the predictive validity of scores on the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy…

Concerns about the ability-achievement discrepancy method for specific learning disability (SLD) determination led to alternative research-based methods, such as failure to respond to intervention. Neither of these "regulatory" methods address the "statutory" SLD definition, which explicitly includes a deficit in "basic…

Assessed the validity of the Kindergarten Teacher Rating Scale (KTRS) in predicting reading achievement for male (N=254) and female (N=227) students. Results indicated that the KTRS was a significant predictor of reading achievement for both boys and girls. Differential predictive validity for boys and girls was not found. (LLL)

Administered the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) to fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students (N=44). Six months later, all students received the California Achievement Test (CAT). Results supported the predictive utility of the K-ABC, and also provide support for the differential validity of the K-ABC achievement versus mental…

The findings suggest that objective tests of motivation add considerably to the prediction of achievement. (Author)

Examined the efficacy of the McCarthy Screening Test (MST) and Metropolitan Readiness Test (MRT) to predict academic readiness after kindergarten and achievement at the end of first grade. The MST significantly predicted children's scores of the MRT and SFAT. Additionally, the MRT was a significant predictor of the SFAT. (JAC)

Performed a follow-up of a sample of children (N=24) to determine whether the McCarthy Scales administered during kindergarten is predictive of subsequent achievement test performance and predictive of course grades during the sixth grade. Results indicated that the McCarthy Scales have predictive value over a six-year period. (LLL)

Examined long-term predictive validity of Learning Disabilities Index (LDI) as it relates to achievement outcomes for learning-disabled children. Results indicated that successive LDI scores at ages 7, 10, and 13 were capable of differentiating among children who had been identified as good, moderate, and poor outcome groups at age 13. (Author/NB)

Examined the concurrent validity of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Childen (K-ABC) with 47 students referred for learning difficulties. Data analysis indicated that the K-ABC Achievement global scale was the only significant predictor of the PPVT-R. Implications for practitioners are…

First graders (N=26) completed the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, McCarthy Scales, and Woodcock-Johnson Scales of Cognitive Ability. Two years later, their academic achievement was determined by Wide Range Achievement Test and teacher ratings. Results suggest that all three intellectual measures are appropriate for predicting…

Administered the Concepts About Print (CAP) test during kindergarten and first grade (N=56). Results showed the CAP to be highly correlated with various tests of school achievement obtained during the second through the fourth grades and to effectively predict those children who would later be retained in school. (JAC)

Examined the predictive validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Revised) in 64 Mexican-American children. All the correlations among the WISC-R factor scores and academic achievement were low. In contrast, significant relationships were observed between IQ scores and achievement measures, suggesting utility of the WISC-R IQs in…

Talented fourth graders were assessed on different WISC-R short-form combinations to determine which short-form was the most effective predictor of high Full Scale WISC-R IQ. Findings are of relevance to gifted assessment. (Author)

Three standardized measures of short-term memory (STM) were compared to determine their relative efficacy in predicting reading achievement for 36 primary-grade students over a two-year period. A letter sequences test was found to be the most frequently associated with reading performance. A memory-for-sentences task also showed a significant…

Compares the capability of three kindergarten screening instruments to correctly predict which children (n=95) would be recommended for referral to remedial programs or for retention: a Piagetian-based instrument, a general screening test, and a language-specific screen. Although the Piagetian-based test had poor predictive qualities, both the…