Used four-subtest short form of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised to develop efficient, simultaneous screening/assessment procedure for identifying gifted students for special programs. Estimated statistical relationship between subtest and full-test scores using test score data from 203 students. Found subtest score of 52 both…

Recent scientific advances in early literacy assessment have provided schools with access to critical information about students' foundational beginning reading skills. In this article, we describe how assessment of early literacy skills can help school psychologists promote beginning reading success for all children. First, we identify key skills…

Delineates a model of the complete diagnosis process which is motivated by concern that every child achieve the potential he possesses. Discusses the usual functions of diagnosis, the nature of psychological-educational diagnosis, the effects of inaccurate or inadequate diagnosis, and implication for a more adequate process. (Author/PC)

The position paper on unbiased assessment of culturally different children provided impetus for describing fallacies: that child advocacy necessitates renunciation of standardized assessments, that diagnoses are either harmful or useless, that use of norms is detrimental, that standardized tests are devoid of value, and that multidisciplinary…

So as to compare predicted achievement based upon WISC-R IQs and observed achievement by the WRAT standard scores, both instruments were administered by the same school psychologist to 282 urban students referred for psychological evaluation. The correlations obtained were substantial. (Author)

A heterogeneous group of elementary school children referred for psycho-educational diagnosis were rated on the Devereux Child Behavior Rating Scale and the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test, scoring for Koppitz Emotional Indicators. Findings suggests that certain DCB factors may be more predictive of emotional problems than others in the scale.…

Established local norms for the frequency of disruptive and unproductive classroom behaviors using a sample of 81 referred and 81 nonreferred elementary school students in grades kindergarten through five. For assessment purposes, frequency of behaviors (off task, talked out, out of seat, other behavior) was categorized by grade level. (Author/ABL)

Correlation between teachers' ratings of vocabulary, comprehension, mathematics, and verbal intelligence with scores from the Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) plus the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) was assessed with 120 boys and 110 girls aged 8.6 to 10.5 years in Melbourne. Results indicated two discrete domains of…

A ratio adjustment procedure for baseline records which compares the observed response frequency with a maximum possible frequency for each observation period is described. This ratio is transformed into a response percentage with a more general predictive value for the behavior modification practitioner. (Author/RC)

Notes that adolescents with alcohol or drug problems may be referred to school psychologists for assessment and may demonstrate symptoms similar to learning disabilities or emotional disturbance. Discusses prereferral questionnaires, initial interviews, behavioral observations, and assessment devices to help psychologists determine probability…

Special services usage and related assessment procedures were investigated for 50 students with epilepsy. Fifty-six percent of students with epilepsy received special education services, with mental retardation designation and self-contained placement common, especially among individuals with epilepsy plus a coexisting neurological diagnosis.…

Discusses concerns among school psychologists for evaluating goal attainment of their services. Describes an approach for goal-based evaluation of school psychological service departments, termed "Needs-Based Goal Attainment Scaling," that builds upon previously developed approaches to goal attainment scaling. (Author)

Describes a model of delivery of services that enables school psychologists to meet testing demands while initiating a broad range of consultative services. The model includes having available: (1) funds for contract testing, (2) conferences with teachers prior to formal referral of children, and (3) qualified contract evaluators. (Author/RC)

Describes a procedure for program evaluation of a special education day school. The procedure enables a program evaluator to: (1) identify priority evaluation information needs of a school staff, (2) involve those persons in evaluation design and implementation, and (3) determine the utility of the evaluation for program decision-making purposes.…

Findings from 83 school psychologists revealed that a typical battery for assessing severely emotionally disturbed students consisted on Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, Wide-Range Achievement Test, Bender-Gestalt, an incomplete sentence test, a behavior-rating scale, classroom observation, and informal interviews. Psychologists…