School Testing: What Parents and Educators Need to Know

For parents and teachers caught up in the maelstrom of using test scores to make educational decisions, this book is useful. Gellman, professor of counseling, research, special education and rehabilitation at Hofstra University on Long Island, points out the fallibility of tests as well as the valuable information they can provide about a student's skills and abilities. The author identifies the major types of tests administered to schoolchildren and the kinds of information they provide. For readers intimidated by statistics, her approach to the concepts of test validity and reliability is generally accessible. Although not rejecting tests and their validity, Gellman emphasizes that their results must be viewed in terms of the test's limitations and be considered with whatever else is known about the test taker. Illustrations not seen by PW. (Mar.)