Standardized Testing: What is it Good For? A Case Study in Connecticut

The case study was developed in an attempt to shed more light on the debate of standardized testing. The goal of the study was to find evidence to support whether or not standardized testing is worth doing in public secondary schools. To investigate this question, the state standardized math test scores of three Connecticut public high schools were analyzed. The average math scores over thirteen years were observed and statistical analysis was performed to see if any significant differences existed between the three schools. Tests were performed before and after the change in standardized test. The graduation rates of the schools were observed and compared to the trend of the CAPT mean math scores over time. This analysis was then supplemented with responses from a survey distributed to Connecticut high school math teachers to take into consideration the educators’ views of standardized testing. Both the quantitative and qualitative data had conflicting results. The standardized test scores appeared to improve over time, while the teachers found their teaching and student learning was interfered with the testing. Following the analyses, future implications of using standardized testing and how it may affect the transition to the Common Core Standards is discussed. -

A DISCUSSION OF WATER QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY ISSUES

Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

IMPACT OF PRODUCTION CHANGES ON INCOME AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK IN THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS

Regional and farm-level analyses are conducted to evaluate the economic and environmental impacts of water quality protection policies. The regional analysis evaluates reducing nitrate losses by reducing per-acre nitrogen use, taxing nitrogen use, taxing irrigation water use, and reducing furrow irrigation. Incentives to convert furrow systems to sprinkler and LEPA systems outperform the other policies. The firm-level analysis derives farm plans that limit the expected values of environmental indices for nitrates and pesticides, and reduce the probability that specified targets will be exceeded. The analysis demonstrates the importance of evaluating environmental risk as stochastic process.converting irrigation systems, environmental risk, environmental risk models, regional environmental analysis, taxing irrigation water, taxing nitrogen use, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use, Livestock Production/Industries,

USE OF PROBABILISTIC CASH FLOWS IN ANALYZING INVESTMENTS UNDER CONDITIONS OF RISK AND UNCERTAINTY

Risk and Uncertainty,

SIMULATION OF SOIL WATER-CROP YIELD SYSTEMS: THE POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Crop Production/Industries,

A COMPARISON OF OBJECTIVE FUNCTION STRUCTURES USED IN A RECURSIVE GOAL PROGRAMMING-SIMULATIONS MODEL OF FARM GROWTH

Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE ON THE HIGH PLAINS: AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Recent declines in irrigated acres in the High Plains and shifts to crops which use less water are likely to continue, with an eventual return to dryland production in many regions. Declining groundwater levels and depletion of the Ogallala aquifer are secondary causes of this decline. Primary causes are high irrigation costs and low profitability of irrigated crops relative to dryland crops produced within and outside the region. Continued low commodity prices will speed the transition to dryland production as many current irrigators are unable to replace fully depreciated irrigation systems. Adoption of new technology will slow but not reverse the reduction in irrigated production.Crop Production/Industries,

IMPLICATIONS OF THE TAX REFORM ACT OF 1976 FOR FARM ESTATE PLANNING

An intergeneration transfer simulation model is used to project estate transfer costs and the value of transfers to the heirs before and after the tax reform act of 1976. Lower Federal estate taxes result for estates that qualify for the special use valuation of farmland provision of the new law. Replacing the $60,000 estate exemption with the$47,000 estate tax credit and revising the tax rate schedule increases Federal estate taxes when the taxable estate is between $1.175 million and$9.353 million. The new carryover basis rules for estate assets acquired from decedents dying after 1979 also increase transfer costs.Agricultural Finance,

A DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF WATER SAVINGS FROM ADVANCED IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY

A computerized grain sorghum plant growth model is combined with recursive programming to analyze the potential irrigation water savings from adopting irrigation scheduling and low pressure center pivot irrigation technology. Results indicate that irrigation pumping can be reduced with increased yields and net returns by adopting low energy precision application (LEPA) irrigation systems. Variations in input and output prices affect optimal irrigation quantities for low pressure irrigation systems less than for high pressure systems.Crop Production/Industries,

A RETIREMENT INCOME SIMULATION MODEL FOR FARM OPERATORS

Farm Management,