Focuses on reading in the school domain and concludes that achievement in reading results from a combination of maturation, exposure, and instruction. Assesses the limits an successes of the instruction of reading in the U.S. and makes cross-national comparisons. (RDN)

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a new system of international assessments that focus on 15-year-olds' capabilities in reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy. PISA, which is sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), also measures general or cross-curricular…

A study conducted in Northern Ireland discovered differences in cognitive processing between average adult readers and adult literacy students. (MKM)

Discusses the global and analytical approaches to reading assessment. Points out that the first approaches reading as a self-contained activity, while the second presupposes both a reading model and a reader model. Applies each to the context of reading assessment in France. Suggests discarding the global approach as a diagnostic tool. (KO)

Discusses a study of variations in Scottish elementary school children's reading attainment. Reports that, although individual student achievement varied with socioeconomic background, variations among schools did not appear to relate to schools' socioeconomic composition, size, location, or denominational status. Cites the need to evaluate such…

The first year (1986-87) of a measurement-driven and feedback-driven instruction project being conducted in Israel was evaluated. Criterion-referenced tests developed for the evaluation were administered to students in grades 3, 4, and 5 in 26 schools. Positive effects were found on achievement in reading comprehension and arithmetic. (SLD)

Studied the relationships among students' backgrounds in terms of parental education and socioeconomic level, Finnish linguistic influence, and reading literacy for students in Swedish-speaking schools in Finland. Data from two national studies indicate that home background is more significant for reading literacy than is linguistic background.…

Measures Year 6 children from the United Kingdom for self esteem (Lawseq questionnaire) and attainment in mathematics (Mathematics 11) and reading (Primary Reading Test Level 2). Examines gender differences in attainment. Discusses the findings in relation to the debate concerning the low performance of boys. (CMK)

Examines the reading achievement, metacognitive knowledge related to reading and memory, reading self-concept, and interest in reading of 140 third- and fourth-grade students in Germany. Reveals differences between the third- and fourth-grade students related to teacher evaluation of their achievement, word decoding skills, and metacognitive…

This paper summarises findings and lessons from a recently conducted evaluation of an adult functional literacy program in Ghana. The study attempted to assess learners' literacy and numeracy skills, and ascertain participants' knowledge and skills in various development aspects as well as their impact. The literacy and numeracy skills assessment…

This paper explores recent Ontario policy directives aimed at improving literacy levels among boys in addition to the perspectives underlying these policies. By drawing on the school experiences of four high school young men, the authors examine how boys read and misread masculinities through socially literate practices. This paper argues that…

Attempts to evaluate the cognitive-motivational profiles of students with reading comprehension difficulties have been scarce. The purpose of the present study was twofold: (a) to assess the discriminatory validity of cognitive, motivational, affective, and psychopathological variables for identification of students with reading difficulties, and…

This report examines how immigrant students performed, mainly in mathematics and reading, but also in science and problem-solving skills in the PISA 2003 assessment, both in comparison with native students in their adopted country and relative to other students across all countries covered in the report (the "case countries"). In…

This study conducts a meta-analysis using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to address the questions of the extent of gender differences in reading, whether or not these differences apply similarly across English and non-English speaking countries and decrease with age. Female secondary students performed 0.19 standard deviation units above their…

To help inform policymakers and the public about the progress of education in the United States, Congress has mandated that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) produce an annual report, "The Condition of Education." This year's report presents 42 indicators on important topics and trends in U.S. education. These…