Examines the extent and nature of America's need to know whether the nation's educational outlook is improving, considers the contributions of the Scholastic Aptitude Test and the National Assessment of Educational Progress to the information effort, and proposes a more effective testing system to be administered by the Census Bureau. (PGD)

Some negative feelings about tests may be the result of not understanding what tests do, what their limitations are, and how they are scored. Classroom, standardized, achievement, and criterion-referenced tests are discussed. Tips for helping children develop a realistic attitude toward tests and good work habits are given. (MT)

Advantages of three methods for evaluating kindergarten children (standardized tests, early identification procedures, and criterion-referenced tests) are explained. (GW)

This document addresses the CLAST results for Miami-Dade Community College (M-DCC) in June 2002. The results can be useful in developing strategies to enhance the CLAST pass rates of M-DCC students. Specifically, the document addresses the following three areas: first time pass rate increases in essay, reading, and mathematics, education majors…

This document addresses the CLAST results for Miami-Dade Community College (M-DCC) in 2001. The results can be useful in developing strategies to enhance the CLAST pass rates of M-DCC students. Specifically, the document addresses the following three areas: first time and retake pass rates, performance of first time examinees by skill area,…

This document addresses the CLAST results for Miami Dade Community College (M-DCC) in 2002. The results can be useful in developing strategies to enhance the CLAST pass rates of M-DCC students. Specifically, the document addresses the following three areas: first time and retake pass rates, performance of first time examinees by skill area,…

This document addresses the retention of second language students at Miami-Dade Community College in October 2002. Overall, retention of second language students has improved since the previous year. It should be noted that despite the increase in retention, fewer students are passing all of their lower level EAP courses. The report contains…

The assessment of student achievement in mathematics is discussed. Different approaches should be used to ascertain student achievement of objectives in the mathematics curriculum. Some methods are subjective, such as rating scales, and these can be very useful. Among more objective approaches is the use of standardized tests. There is a number of…

Because of lack of research and too much political gamesmanship, accountability's great promise may never be realized, say the authors. (Editor)

Standardized tests are not sufficient to measure the full area of school effectiveness because they encourage the rating of students on a narrow range of capabilities, the emphasis of only one set of educational goals, and the use of a uniform set of teaching methods. (JW)

Observations by parents of 11 Down's syndrome infants and observations by parent advisors on a criterion-referenced checklist were compared to observation by trained evaluators using the standardized Bayley Scales of Infant Development. (CL)

Research on the lack of correlation between standardized tests and school district goals has suggested that district goals might be better met by supplementing standardized tests with district-made criterion-referenced testing systems. This article reports on the development of such a system, the Academic Learning Progress Assessment System…

What is meant by "accountability" varies a great deal. It is not, however, the tools such as merit salary plans, voucher plans, and management techniques that are used to achieve accountability. Accountability has from its earliest days been tied to testing. In discussing testing, it is necessary to discuss the pros and cons of standardized, or…

This article presents views of proponents and opponents to standardized tests, isolates the major weakness of testing--questionable validity--and offers several recommendations for the betterment of test development and use. Some major misuses of tests include the following: (a) tests are at times administered with no clear purpose; (b) test…