Literacy instruction does not end with reading success in early grades. As students move to middle and high school, new challenges emerge that can affect literacy achievement. Even for students who achieve early reading and writing success, the literacy demands of middle and high school can pose substantial challenges. Older students must be able…

This report describes the status of Texas schools as required by state law. The document contains 6 chapters on the following topics: (1) student performance on state assessments; (2) student dropouts; (3) state performance on the academic excellence indicators; (4) district and campus performance in meeting state accountability standards; (5)…

Describes the formative evaluation of Project IMPACT, a computer-based information system designed to provide school personnel with frequent systematic evaluation information on student progress. Preliminary evidence indicates that with this information instructors can modify instruction to meet the needs of the students and thereby may increase…

To help give elementary school physical education students a greater appreciation of their own progress and to increase their motivation to achieve, a club-oriented incentive program was established. Students were tested in skills taught at each grade level and those meeting the requirements were awarded club membership certificates. (PP)

Outlines the potential for using whole language for remediation of reading disabilities. Criticizes current approaches to remediation. Discusses six principles of whole language instruction that are effective for remediation. Describes four whole-language programs that have successfully remediated students. Suggests alternative assessment…

Describes a full-time mainstreaming program that was recently implemented in a public elementary school. Discusses the changes in the role of the special education teachers participating in the program and how they perceived those changes. (HB)

Examines current Adult Basic Education teaching and assessment methods in the United Kingdom and the United States to help define what constitutes success in adult basic literacy tuition. (SR)

This paper describes and evaluates the efficacy of a combination of curriculum-based measurement and peer tutoring incorporated into 40 elementary education mathematics classes, to differentiate instruction and improve student achievement. The evaluation indicated that students with low achievement, average achievement, and learning disabilities…

Explains that a goal of symphony orchestra education programs is to enhance the attainment of concepts associated with the elementary music curriculum, but there is little evidence of student learning as a result of these programs. Finds one exception is the assessment component of the Arts in Community Education Partnership (Milwaukee,…

Focuses on assessing student learning in relation to the National Standards for Music Education, covering topics such as content-related evidence of validity (the extent to which an assessment covers the content of instruction), assessment frameworks, weighing content areas, and frequency of assessment. Provides recommendations. (CMK)

The "value-added" conception of excellence in education, unlike any traditional view, focuses on the ability of a school or college to affect its students favorably and equitably. It focuses on changes in the student from the beginning to the end of the educational program. The "value-added" approach would involve the testing…

A study was conducted to evaluate the writing component of the Catonsville (Maryland) Community College Advancement Studies Program (ASP), a comprehensive plan of three core courses for developmental students. The study's nine hypotheses focused on general improvement of ASP student writing abilities, the specific areas of such improvement, and…

An authority on student assessment says the ability of public schools to meet federal expectations will depend on the instructional sensitivity of the tests in use. Offers a six-step blueprint for carrying out a public-information campaign about NCLB tests. Lists websites for two reports by five national education associations on instructionally…

Provides a way to introduce students to the philosophical roots of psychology by surveying their assumptions on the nature of mind, emotions, and behavior. Describes and gives examples of a 50-item Likert-scale questionnaire concerning positions of the philosophers, biologists, and psychologists discussed in the class. (MJP)