The validity of interpretations of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) achievement levels is evaluated by focusing on evidence regarding three types of discrepancies: (1) between standards; (2) among descriptions of achievement levels; and (3) between assessments and content standards. All of these discrepancies raise serious…

Implications of the relationships among mathematics and reading achievement tests scores uncovered by testing 366 elementary school students with academic difficulties are discussed. Tests are the: (1) KeyMath-Revised (J. Connolly, 1988); (2) Peabody Individual Achievement Test-Revised (F. Markwardt, 1989); (3) Wechsler Individual Achievement Test…

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test data reveals the current state of high-school student proficiency and standardized test results across the nation. This information also dramatically demonstrates what is at stake as concerns about closing achievement gaps heighten.

This paper explores the question of whether it is possible to design professional development programs for teachers that can significantly improve student test results and reduce the achievement gap for students. The Dayton (Ohio) Foundation and the Montgomery County (Ohio) Educational Service Center, sponsors of The Miami Valley Teacher/…

When 2006 Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) scores were released in March 2007, there were many questions about the comparability of the 2006 test to earlier ISATs. The 2006 ISAT was a new test, with new items, a new format, new timing requirements, and new scoring procedures. Many people were skeptical about whether it was appropriate to…

There is no published empirically based research on the new GCE synoptic assessment. Consequently no published research has been undertaken on its role, how it is taught or how pupils are prepared for the assessment. Neither is there a published evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching the synoptic units. It is these issues which are addressed…

The Atlanta Public Schools administer a systemwide achievement testing program annually to assess the academic progress of students enrolled in kindergarten through the eleventh grades. The 1981 administration of the California Achievement Tests revealed evidence that test-level assignments have improved. The regular education students were tested…

An attempt to outline the simplest framework for achievement testing that shows the relationship between achievement tests and the instructional programs, and to show how achievement testing may be implemented within this framework. (Author/DEP)

One of a series of reports on the International Project for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (in Mathmatics).

The author, as a testing consultant, has considered and answered 16 questions on the various aspects of testing usually asked by school staff members. The questions and answers are primarily concerned with statistical aspects of achievement tests and the best way to interpret test results to clients, parents and teachers. The need for caution in…

This booklet contains the graphs of mean cumulative and achievement scores, as well as a grade level analysis, for all grade schools in Charles County, Maryland during the 1973-1974 academic year. (Author/BJG)

The recommended procedure for achievement test selection is presented. Following a review of some fundamental definitions of statistical properties of achievement tests (validity, reliability, and norms), major considerations to be applied in selecting achievement tests are discussed. These considerations are: (1) the characteristics of the school…

A kit of modular, programmed materials was used in two Typing 11 classes at Templeton Secondary School. With these two classes as the experimental group and one Typing 11 class as a control group using a standard approach, a set of tests was given to compare gains or losses over a three-month period. Two students from each of the three classes…