The literature on item bias, i.e., the question of whether some items in tests favor one cultural group over another cultural group due to irrelevant factors, is reviewed and evaluated. All known references through 1981 are described including a large number of unpublished reports. Each method is described and the criticisms that have appeared in…

Describes the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1998 Civics Assessment. Includes average scores and achievement-level results for the United States, for demographic subgroups, and for students in a variety of contexts. Also examines the framework and content of the assessment. (Author/SLD)

This report presents the results of the statewide spring 2000 administration of the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP). Third-grade students were assessed in Reading; fourth- and seventh-grade students were assessed in Reading and Writing; and eighth-grade students were assessed in Mathematics and Science. The assessments were developed by…

Whether differences in mean scores among gender and racial/ethnic groups on science performance assessments are comparable to those for traditional tests was studied with 2,000 students in grades five, six, and nine. Overall, results suggest that the type of test has little effect on these differences in scores. (SLD)

The College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST), a component of Florida's system of educational accountability, is a lower-division college achievement test measuring student achievement of college-level communication and mathematics skills. Effective January 1996, students meeting certain requirements were exempt from the CLAST. This report…

Guidelines for test item-writing have traditionally recommended making the correct answer of a multiple-choice item grammatically consistent with its stem. To investigate the effects of adhering to this practice, certain item formats were designed to determine whether the practice of providing relevant grammatical clues, in itself, created cue…

Hawaii uses the eighth edition of the Stanford Achievement Test (Stanford 8) to assess academic performance of the student population in grades 3, 6, 8, and 10. Hawaii was not included in the norming for the Stanford 8, neither for the national nor the Pacific norms. In this study, Hawaii norms were developed based on the Stanford 8 reading and…

The effects of testing on Native Americans and the outcomes of test use are discussed. Native Americans are exposed to a wide variety of tests during their lifetimes, in Bureau of Indian Affairs Schools, in high schools, in employment, and for college entrance and placement. Too much reliance can be placed on tests taken by Native American youth…

Studies of the mathematics assessments of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are summarized. One study found that omit rates for NAEP test items were higher for African Americans and Hispanics than for whites. The other found that descriptions and examples for the 1992 mathematics achievement levels were misleading. (SLD)

The College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) is part of Florida's system of educational accountability that is mandated by state law. The CLAST is an achievement test measuring students' attainment of college-level communication and mathematics skills identified by faculties of community colleges and state universities. Since August 1, 1984…

The College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) is part of Florida's system of educational accountability that is mandated by state law. The CLAST is an achievement test measuring students' attainment of college-level communication and mathematics skills identified by faculties of community colleges and state universities. Since August 1, 1984…

The College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) is part of Florida's system of educational accountability. Mandated by state law, the CLAST is an achievement test measuring students' college-level communication and mathematics skills identified by faculties of community colleges and state universities. Since August 1, 1984 students in public…

The College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST), mandated by state law, is part of Florida's system of educational accountability. The CLAST is an achievement test measuring students' college-level communication and mathematics skills as identified by faculties of community colleges and state universities. Since August 1, 1984 students in public…

Ohio's Educational Assessment Program is briefly described, and extensive tables present the 1978 test results. The sampling design, test development, and setting of performance expectancy levels are discussed. Results are reported for the total test and for each objective. Comparisons between the average predicted, minimally acceptable, and…

The College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) is an examination of achievement in communication skills and mathematics that is mandated by state law for college students in community colleges and state universities in Florida as a requirement for an Associate's degree or for entry into upper-level courses. Higher CLAST standards went into effect…