Grading patterns for over 1,000 teachers, giving more than 40,000 grades in approximately 2,000 courses, are reported and a method is introduced both to normalize and stabilize grade data by courses. The findings indicate that the academic field of the course is strongly related to the types of grades assigned, but that academic credentials and…

The "Uniform Graduation Examination Requirements" for English are examined and, in general, approved. But the written portion needs better description; the "Translation" and "Summary and Text Discussion" portions should be changed. Distinctions between basic and honors courses are unclear. Description and rating of…

Analyzes the results of previous studies that examined the effects of teaching test-taking skills to elementary school children. Concludes that training in test-taking skills is differentially effective for various subgroups of children, longer training programs are more effective, and training is more effective in the upper elementary grades than…

Argues that current grading practices in some schools lack consistency in several critical areas, including criteria for failure, absolute or relative standards, and motivation of slower students. Policies are suggested that will help educators develop fairer and more humane marking systems. (TE)

Discusses societal changes that may have contributed to increasing average achievement levels (especially in mathematics) for Black students. Considers the long-term beneficial effects of school desegregation. (GC)

Although numerous quality ratings exist in today's media-centric environment (Money Magazine, and U.S. News and World Report, etc.), it is quite difficult to provide any reasonably meaningful estimates of institutional quality, either qualitative or quantitative. Global ratings of university "quality" abound, despite the fact that there…

The writer calls attention to the many traps associated with one of the most frequent uses of assessment: the technical difficulties of measuring changes in learning over time. Noting that psychometricians don't like "change" or "difference" scores in statistical analyses because they tend to have lower reliability than the original measures…

Describes the development and implementation of an administrator merit pay plan for the North Salem, New York, public schools. The plan includes provisions for salary adjustments according to the quality of service (from "unsatisfactory" to "outstanding") and three sets of materials for administrator evaluaiton. (JBM)

Based on an interview study of 138 kindergarten children, the data for the most part did not support Bernstein's ideas. Speech style indicators did not cluster into elaborated and restricted variants. Neither social control strategies nor school achievement scores were differentially related to elaborated and restricted variants. (PD)

Reviews a study designed to determine the effects of providing special education teachers with computer programs to aid them in developing appropriate math education programs for their students. The experiment demonstrated that math learning rate could be accelerated, but not whether the accelerated rate could be maintained. Thirteen references…

Fifty-nine undergraduate students, divided into two groups to compare the instructional motivational effects of auto-tutorial and conventional instruction, were tested for achievement via performance (Ac), achievement via independence (Ai), and internal-external locus of control. Significant interaction was found between Ac and the two methods of…

Asserts that three social dominance issues have caused and continue to perpetuate achievement disparities among poor and minority students: the assumption of rightness, the luxury of ignorance, and the legacy of privilege. Describes school district initiatives, leadership, and research findings related to overcoming this achievement gap. Contends…

Issues that emerged within the context of an Australian national project on secondary education--"Reports and Records of Achievement for School Leavers"--are addressed. The role of external examinations, move toward standards-based assessment, certificates/records, tertiary selection, reporting, student-to-teacher relationship, teacher…

Asserts that receiving an invitation to participate in the National High School Honors Orchestra (NHSHO) represents the zenith in the growth and maturation of young orchestral musicians. Describes how the NHSHO was initiated so that talented youth could have the opportunity to meet and work with other accomplished musicians. (CFR)

For more than 50 years, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) has been conducting comparative studies of educational achievement in a number of curriculum areas, including mathematics and science. TIMSS 2011 represents the fifth cycle of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS),…