The products of research and the successes of curriculum reforms are often inaccessible to teachers, administrators, and policymakers. This paper was designed to help researchers communicate their knowledge of successful curriculum reform to policymakers and practitioners, in order to influence practice. It focuses on making more effective use of…

The main challenges faced by high schools are preparing students for the workforce of the 21st century, and for post secondary educational opportunities. Yet in a 2004 review of the graduation requirements of all 50 states, Achieve Inc. discovered that "no state requires its graduates to take the courses that reflect the real-world demands of…

A statewide performance funding initiative provided a strong incentive to examine student outcomes. The result has been a systematic program of data collection and dissemination that has significantly affected both the curriculum and the university's budgeting process. (Author/MSE)

Emphasizing the importance of information in effective planning and decision making, this document reviews the background on data in education both before and after 1976, with particular emphasis on the Florida Educational Accountability Act and its influence on: (1) comprehensive planning; (2) student assessment; (3) management information…

Ways to define the outcomes of college experiences are discussed, along with the use of assessment information to improve curricula, instruction, and management. The analysis is based on the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems/Kellogg Student Outcomes Project. It is proposed that institutions achieve educational excellence by…