The use of a variety of specific competency tests that measure skill achievement required for high school graduation are reviewed in this monograph. The successful performance of certain competencies ordinarily is viewed as an important adjunct of course work. They are not seen by most schools as a replacement for course work, but rather as one…

This program was proposed and implemented to use the analysis of state-test results as a method for initiating specific changes in an existing curriculum and/or course of study. The program involved approximately 110 teachers and seven administrators in a low-middle-class suburban school district. Components of the program included (1) inservice…

This paper is a review of opinion and research concerning the objectivity and relevance of grades and grade averages as measures and as predictors of success. As measures they are ambiguous, reflecting differences in sex, basic temperament, instructors, departments, institutions, as much as levels of competence. And as a predictor of…

It is asserted in this paper that some standardized tests do not do a good job of what they claim to do, and for some testing purposes nonstandardized tests are more appropriate or efficient. Under present circumstances, group I.Q. tests should be abolished. They provide no useful information that cannot be gained from achievement tests. And what…

Research sought to develop a quantitative model for the prediction of learning effects of a bilingual children's educational television program. The stimulus program series consisted of 30 sessions of Carrascolendas, a Spanish-English series which was based on specified behavioral objectives and aimed at students through grade 2. Learning effects…

This evaluative research is concerned with specific educational programs which attempt to adapt instruction to individual differences. Attention is limited to the Frick School, a large urban Pittsburgh school in which the Learning Research and Development Center develops its new educational programs, and to the Follow-Through network where these…

A replicable process for improving instruction through the consistent use of student data collected before, during, and after instruction is proposed. A rational analysis of different types of error rates (theoretical, base, posttest, instructional) and discrimination indices (base, posttest) leads to a set of rules for identifying test items and…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress is a project which annually surveys the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of young Americans. Its basic mission is to provide information useful to educational decision-makers and practitioners. The project has contributed to American education, but its assessment results have been of limited…

Testing with minority and disadvantaged populations in America has resulted in widespread abuse. Theorists have historically viewed tests as instruments for upward mobility in a system in which doors are often opened by parental wealth and status. Predictive validity of tests has not properly accounted for problems in correlational techniques…

Evaluated was a summer program of reading and mathematics for handicapped pupils in special education classes consisting of two components: the speech/language impairment component, including 377 students, and the component for mentally retarded pupils, including 3l5 students. The speech/language component, designed to improve academic skills…

The primary objective of this report, one of five reports under a project to develop a multi-State consortium, is to provide a collection of information concerning the activities and actions resulting from efforts to form a consortium. Materials presented are the results of actions of representatives of States invited to participate in a…

A study was conducted to review the concept of validity in the context of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia. The study included a review of literature, case studies, presentation of key findings, and recommendation of a tool to guide assessors. An eight-faceted approach to validity, based on Nitko, was developed, with each…

State-mandated student testing in Ohio is a combination of three different initiatives: (1) competency-based education (CBE) assessment; (2) achievement and ability testing; and (3) proficiency testing. This report describes the current testing requirements and some of the characteristics of each of these types of assessment. CBE assessment was…

Describes a study that was conducted to analyze the developmental effects of two instructional strategies--adjunct questions and visualization--in facilitating student achievement among Korean high school and adult learners. Treatments for the experimental and control groups are described, criterion measures are explained, and results are…

This article presents initial findings related to the psychometric issues and current state policies and practices for out-of-level testing of students with disabilities. Findings indicate 12 states have out-of- level testing policies and states are evenly distributed among those that use criterion-referenced tests, norm-referenced tests, or a…