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The Relationship Between Minimum Competency Testing Programs and Students' Reading Proficiency: Implications From the 1983-84 National Assessment of Educational Progress of Reading and Writing NAEP MCT

Author(s):
Winfield, Linda F.
Publication Year:
1987
Report Number:
RR-87-15
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
109
Subject/Key Words:
Minimum Competency Testing, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Reading Proficiency (NAEP study), School Effectiveness, Writing Skills

Abstract

Exploratory studies presented in this report used multilevel data obtained in the 1983-84 National Assessment of Educational Progress to investigate the relationship between minimum competency testing (MCT) programs and student reading proficiency. A "school effects" paradigm was used in Study 1 to assess the effect of a school-level MCT program after adjusting for students' age, sex, region of the country, family background, school-level composition, and socieconomic status, students' academic behaviors, school-level remedial program, and instructional dollars per pupil. Within-race/ethnic group analyses were conducted to investigate whether or not the effect of MCT programs on reading proficiency was similar for each race/ethnic group. The second study examined the relationship between the type of state testing program and reading proficiency for each grade cohort after adjusting for students' age, sex, district and school-level SES variables, family background, and race. These studies demonstrate the limits and potential of using NAEP data to inform public policy issues. (109pp.)

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