Minnesota has developed a statewide assessment in response to the national movement toward state accountability and high standards for all students. The Minnesota Basic Standards Tests currently assess whether a student has achieved a minimum level of competency in reading, math, and writing. Limited English speaking (LEP) students in Minnesota…

This document contains sample test items from the Florida College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST), an achievement test that measures communication and computation skills that students should have acquired on completing their sophomore year in college. The sample items in this document test the set of skills that were revised in September 1990…

Some fundamental assessment-related issues must be considered as states and localities refine and build upon existing assessment systems. First is the likely impact of increased high-stakes testing on industry-valued high school programs and their students. Data are inconclusive but suggest consequences of high-stakes testing on these programs and…

This report describes a decision-making tool designed to inform English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and bilingual educators of the most up-to-date participation and test accommodations guidelines and to assist educators in the process of making informed decisions. It reports on the results of a study that examined the tool's feasibility. The…

Idaho has made substantial progress carrying out its State School Improvement Plan under the direction of the Idaho State Board of Education and the Idaho State Department of Education, and with funding under the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Three major areas of accomplishment provide the basis for continuing improvement activities. The first…

This profile is the report card of the Anchorage, Alaska, School District on the academic achievement of Anchorage students. Part 1 provides a summary of performance across the entire district on a variety of important indicators of success. Part 2, published separately, profiles each of the district's schools. Part 1 contains an overview of the…

The report compiles information on Arizona's public school programs serving limited-English-proficient (LEP) students, including both bilingual education and English-as-a-Second-Language programs, as mandated by state law. It contains data submitted by school districts, schools, and charter schools concerning primary home language identification,…

In 1999, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) was administered to students in grades 4, 5, 8, and 10 to assess student achievement of the Sunshine State Standards in reading and mathematics as mandated by the Florida legislature. This report informs administrators, legislators, and the general public about the reading and mathematics…

The purpose of this study is to examine the content of the questions in a number of Advanced Placement Examinations and to attempt to identify content that is related to gender-based performance differences. Free-response questions for ten forms of the AP® Exams in U.S. History, European History, Biology, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics were…

This bulletin is one of a series of publications reporting the findings of investigations undertaken during 1936-37 under the research project in universities of the Office of Education. The project was financed under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, and conducted in accordance with administrative regulations of the Works Progress…

Gives examples of major sources of unreliability in multiple choice items in health professions classroom achievement tests (clues to response combinations, mutually exclusive alternatives, implausible distractors) and offers some suggestions for eliminating them when writing such tests. (MF)

Examines appropriacy of a nationally standardized test normed on English speakers but used with non-English speaking students. Data from the school year are analyzed via reliability comparison, exploratory factor analysis, and comparison of variances. The use of the test was statistically defensible. This finding does not address the need for…

Arizona teachers and administrators (n=2,444) were surveyed to determine (1) use of standardized test scores; (2) teachers' perceptions of others' use of scores; (3) how schools prepare students to take tests; (4) conditions under which tests are given; and (5) views of current testing program effects. (SLD)

Reports on the rationale and processes behind the composition and evaluation of the Advanced Placement European History examination, focusing special attention on changes introduced in 1994. Discusses reasons for adding an additional thematic essay for the 1994 test. (CFR)

Thirty-four boys and 31 girls in grades 2, 4, and 6 were asked about seeking help with mathematics and reading from their parents, teachers, and classmates. Results, discussed in terms of sex and age differences, suggest that low achievers know they need help but hesitate to ask for assistance. (SLD)