Independent school entrance testing as a predictor of student academic success

Much research has been done on the correlations between SAT and ACT scores and student performance in college. However, research into independent school practices reveals little has been done at this level. The test many independent schools use is the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). To date, no local or national research has been done on the correlation of ISEE scores and student performance. The purpose of this study was to analyze the school's historical entrance test scores and conduct research to determine how well they correlate with students' success at the school, specifically with freshmen end of year weighted GPA. Data were gathered for all current, graduated, withdrawn, and expelled students from 2005-2012. For each student, the data included the ISEE scores in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, and mathematics achievement. Also gathered was each student's 9th grade weighted cumulative GPA. Seven extracts were performed to identify students who were new freshmen to the high school beginning with 2005. The study concluded that the test scores are not the best predictor of student success, but they are a factor to be taken into consideration. Regression analysis revealed a weak positive relationship among the four ISEE sub scores and end of year freshman weighted GPA. Combined, the four showed that 30% of the variability of GPA can be attributed to the testing results. Not easily measured, admission decisions are a delicate balance of qualitative and quantitative measures. The school will use the research as a guideline for admission decisions and use caution in proceeding in the overuse of test scores as a large mitigating factor. It is known that there is a relationship but decision-makers must take a holistic approach

Supplementary Material for: Four-Copy Number Intervals in SNP Microarray Analysis: Unique Patterns and Positions

Over the past several years, the utility of microarray technology in delineating copy number changes has become well established. In the past 4 years, we have used the SNP array to detect and analyze allele ratios in 150 cases with 4-copy intervals, confirmed by FISH, offering insight into the underlying mechanisms of formation. These cases may be divided into 5 allele patterns - the first 4 of which involve a single homologue - as detected by the genotyping aspects of the microarray: (1) triplications combining homozygous and heterozygous alleles, with a 3:1 ratio of heterozygotes; (2) triplications with allele patterns combining homozygous and heterozygous alleles, with heterozygote ratios of both 3:1 and 2:2; (3) triplications that have homozygous alleles combined with only 2:2 heterozygous alleles; (4) triplications that are completely homozygous; and (5) homozygous duplications on each homologue with no heterozygous alleles. The implications of copy number variants with diverse allelic segregations are presented in this study

Maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 20: a novel imprinting disorder of growth failure

PURPOSE: Maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 20 (UPD(20)mat) has been reported in only four patients, three of whom also had mosaicism for complete or partial trisomy of chromosome 20. We sought to evaluate the clinical significance of isolated UPD(20)mat in eight individuals. METHODS: We evaluated phenotypic and genomic findings of a series of eight new patients with UPD(20)mat. RESULTS: All eight individuals with UPD(20)mat had intrauterine growth restriction, short stature, and prominent feeding difficulties with failure to thrive. As a common feature, they often required gastric tube feeds. Genomic data in most patients are indicative of UPD as a result of trisomy rescue after meiosis II nondisjunction. CONCLUSION: We describe the first natural history of the disorder and the results of therapeutic interventions, including the frequent requirement of direct gastric feedings only during the first few years of life, and propose that growth hormone supplementation is probably safe and effective for this condition. We suggest that UPD(20)mat can be regarded as a new imprinting disorder and its identification requires specialized molecular testing, which should be performed in patients with early-onset idiopathic isolated growth failure.Genet Med advance online publication 06 August 2015Genetics in Medicine (2015); doi:10.1038/gim.2015.103

Quality improvement and redesign of performance measurement systems: an application to the academic field

The increasing competition both in the public and private sectors gave rise to a growing interest in quality improvement and in designing and implementing Performance Measurement Systems (PMS). Academic organizations also recognized the need for implementing performance measurement systems. Some recent works on PMS in the higher education make use of the Kaplan and Norton's Balanced Scorecard (BSC) to translate the characteristic strategic goals (e.g. research and teaching excellence) into performance measures. However, a PMS needs to be updated when external or internal changes influence the organization modus operandi. In this way a continuous quality improvement of organization performance is required. This paper describes a methodology based on the BSC model to redesign a current PMS. In detail, a reference BSC-check matrix is proposed. A "mapping analysis" of the current PMS is developed to understand if all the operational aspects involved in goals achievement are considered and if proper indicators have been defined. As an example, the methodology is applied to a Department of the authors' own University. The paper shows also how the proposed approach can be extended to other context