In April 1986 the Congressional Budget Office issued a report, "Trends in Educational Achievement," which shows that the trend in rising standardized test scores began in the elementary grades in the mid-1970's and is not due to the current educational reform movements. (MD)

Adopting a new series of tests can raise student test scores. Scores can also be inflated by ensuring certain students do not take specific tests or by not counting some scores. Dramatic rises in standardized scores are likely to be accompanied by skepticism. (MD)

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a measure of an individual student's potential for success in college. Discusses limitations of the test and how misconceptions can prompt educators and community members to focus on the wrong goals. (MLF)

Higher elementary student scores on standardized tests do not mean educational improvement. Scores can be affected by teaching "to" the test, coaching on test taking, and skewed norms. Test scores have been declining at the secondary level. Included is a discussion of secondary tests. (MD)

In response to the limitations of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), several states, including California and Connecticut, are moving away from exclusive use of standardized tests and toward more performance-based assessments. In Massachusetts, a committee is working to put SAT scores into context by finding other ways to judge and report school…

This excerpt from "Measuring Up: Standards, Assessment, and School Reform" points out the limits of norm-referenced tests and discusses the pitfalls of making testing a high-stakes enterprise. Points out that the emphasis on standardized testing, and the push for school districts to score well, often has an inordinate and detrimental effect on…

Annual desk reference of key education facts is organized as follows: (1) year's education events in review; (2) common measures of education attainment; (3) cost of school construction; (4) demographics of school leadership; (5) gender gap in academic achievement; and (6) key education indicators by region and by state. (MLF)