Setting the Scene: Directorial Use of Analogy in Twentieth-Century American Shakespeare Productions

The main purpose of this researcher was to examine how well the New York State Mathematics Assessment in Grade 8 predicted success in high school mathematics programs at the Regents and Accelerated levels as measured by the New York State Regents' Math A and B examinations.

These exams are statewide and are governed by the New York State Department of Education.

All students in the state of New York enrolled in Math A and Math B are required to take these Regents exams.

A requirement for graduation and a NYS Diploma is passing the Math A Regents exam.

The Math B Regents exam is one of the requirements for an advanced Regents diploma in New York State.

This investigator analyzed data from three cohorts of students: the graduating classes of 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Their New York State Math 8 Assessment score and level, New York State Math A and Math B Regents exam grade were obtained and analyzed.

The administering of the Math B exam to juniors allowed this researcher to include the class of 2009, which would not have graduated by the time of data analysis was completed but would have taken the Math B Regents exam.

The data for the study were obtained from a suburban central high school district located within New York State.

The three high schools in the study had vastly different ethnic populations but similar student achievement levels.

A total of 1887 high school students were included in this study.

There are several implications for the use of the New York State Grade 8 Math Assessment for high school course placement.

One is that the math assessment is an instrument that measures the proficiency of all students equally.

The curriculum and standards have been established by New York State and the assessment is written to assure that students are proficient in those standards.

This researcher found that the New York Grade 8 Mathematics Assessment was a significant predictor in determining a student's success in high school mathematics.