Two contrasting kindergarten reading programs (book-focused and letter-focused) were chosen for a study that evaluated the ability of the Early Reading Test to probe children's knowledge of stories as well as letters, sounds, and words. The test also evaluated the kinds of strategies children use to attempt reading tasks and, through interview…

This study reports the impact of the Flint Community Junior College (Michigan) reading improvement program on 150 participating students in terms of general group and racial sub-group (black and white) performance. After the groups were compared according to race and ability for data-collecting purposes, pre- and post-test measurements were taken…

The purpose of this investigation was to study four questions concerning reading achievement and related variables in the largest cities of Connecticut. The four questions were: (1) Has there been a change in average fourth-grade achievement in Title I schools since 1965-1966?; (2) Has the difference between the mean reading achievement of…

A COMPARISON OF AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE READING COMPREHENSION TEST WITH ITS TURKISH TRANSLATION AND RETRANSLATION WAS CONDUCTED. THE INSTRUMENTS CONSISTED OF TWO PARALLEL FORMS OF A READING TEST OF COLLEGE ENTRANCE LEVEL. THEY WERE TRANSLATED INTO TURKISH, AND THEN RETRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH. SUPPLEMENTARY MEASURES WERE ALSO EMPLOYED. THE SAMPLE…

A study investigated the effect of phonemic awareness instruction on the reading ability of first and second grade students. Participants were 100 second graders who had been in 5 first grades at Westside Elementary in Searcy, Arkansas. Using a posttest only control group design and a t test for independent samples, it was found that second grade…

For several decades, the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) held the preeminent role in measuring student and school performance in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Illinois. In the context of the No Child Left Behind act and new calls for accountability, the CPS has decided to include results from the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) in…

Scores in reading and comprehension on the University of Minnesota Reading and Speed of Reading examinations for the years 1928 and 1978 were compared. The 1978 freshmen were found to be at least one grade level below their 1928 counterparts in vocabulary, reading comprehension, and rate of reading. (MLW)

In a discussion of the limitations of reading tests to assess literacy, Street's "autonomous model of literacy" is critiqued and an alternative approach, described as a pragmatic model, is proposed. The alternative approach reflects the social dimension of literacy activities and views reading and writing as inseparable. (32 references) (Author/LB)

A study is reported that was designed to determine whether students would experience differential levels of anxiety when faced with three different second-language reading assessment methods. Subjects were students enrolled in first-year English at a Korean university. Cloze and think-aloud procedures were found to elevate anxiety. (seven…

Basic Skills Assessment Program reading scores for all South Carolina students in grades 1-3 and 6 were analyzed. Failure to meet state standards was higher among younger, male, Black, and lunch-subsidized students. Risk of failure was still higher for younger students after controls for race, gender and lunch-payment status. (Author/PB)

A growing body of evidence indicates that the test scores of low-income children drop significantly relative to their higher-income counterparts during the summer months. This study finds that a well-implemented summer learning program can improve reading skills and increase the extent to which parents encourage their children to read during the…

Forty-two pairs of experienced and novice teachers predicted the rank order of their pupils' scores on the reading and mathematics portions of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). The pool of novice teachers were first semester students in the Arizona State University Professional Teacher Preparation Program (PTPP). The experienced teachers in…

To identify a set of predictor variables for student grades in a first-quarter English course, a study was undertaken of students' reading and language scores on the Career Planning Program (CPP) and the Multiple Assessment and Program Services (MAPS) placement tests. In addition, the relationship was examined between the first-quarter English…

English language assessment of non-native speakers of English (NNS) who apply for undergraduate study in the United States is examined. The analysis focuses on: the assessment of reading in light of its importance across the undergraduate curriculum, and the establishment of a base-line level of reading proficiency to which the proficiency of NNS…

In February 1988, a survey was conducted to examine placement procedures and developmental reading programs at two- and four-year colleges in New York State. Surveys were mailed to 30 two-year colleges and 28 four-year colleges, requesting information on the placement tests and cut-off scores used; types of additional diagnostic testing; course…