Changes in High School Grading Standards in Mathematics, 1982-1992 Book

	Preface	iii
	Figures	vii
	Tables	ix
	Summary	xi
	Acknowledgments	xv
1.	Introduction: the Importance of Grading Standards	1
	Research Questions	2
	Analytical Approach	3
	Organization of the Report	3
2.	Grade Inflation: Anecdotes and Systematic Evidence	4
	Grade Inflation in Secondary Schools	4
	Grade Inflation in Colleges and Universities	6
3.	Data and Methods	7
	High School and Beyond	7
	National Education Longitudinal Study	8
	Measures	8
	Student-Level Variables	9
	School-Level Variables	13
	Methods	14
	Sample Weighting	14
	Descriptive Analyses	15
	Multivariate Analyses	16
4.	Shifting Grades Over a Decade? a Descriptive Analysis	18
	Total Academic GPA	18
	GPA Changes by Subject	22
	Mathematics	22
	English	24
	Science	24
5.	Have Grades Become Inflated? Mathematics Grades in the Context of Tested Proficiency and Coursework	27
	Two Notions of Changing Standards	27
	Changes in Tested Proficiency	28
	Course-Taking and Its Relationships to Grades	29
	Changes in Mathematics Course-Taking from 1982 to 1992	30
	Changes in Grades in Specific Mathematics Courses	32
	The Relationships Between Course Level and Grades	33
	Estimates of Grading Changes Independent of Scores and Coursework	36
	Correlation of Grades with Tested Proficiency	37
	Raw Shift in Grades	37
	Changes in Grades Holding Scores Constant	37
	Changes in Grades Holding Scores and Coursework Constant	39
6.	A Detailed Look at Predictors of Grades in 1982 and 1992	40
	Influences on Grades in 1982 HSB	41
	Influences on Grades in 1992 NELS	45
7.	Discussion	47
	Appendix
A.	Irt Scaling of Mathematics Test Scores, 1982 HSB Seniors and 1992 Nels Seniors	51
B.	Subsample Noncomparability	57
C.	Analysis of the Feasibility of Using Sat and Act Scores as Covariates	63
D.	Hierarchical Linear Models Used to Explore the Predictors of Grades	71
E.	Estimating and Adjusting For Reliability of the HSB and Nels Tests	75
	Bibliography	79