The question of how the U.S. will develop a citizenry with the skills necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st century has attracted the attention of legislators, scientists, and educators. Answering this question leads inevitably to its roots: how well are we preparing young children to enter kindergarten ready to learn? Educators in k-12…

In the spring and fall of 2013, the Center on Education Policy (CEP) convened two meetings of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss ideas for a more relevant and coordinated research agenda on the Common Core State Standards. Participants in these meetings identified several needs and made a number of thoughtful suggestions. Many…

Communities across the country are grappling with different approaches to improving their schools. Introducing or expanding charter schools is one of the approaches that states and school districts have considered or implemented. Charter schools serve more than 5 percent of public school students nationwide and make up close to 7 percent of all…

In the 21st century, the rapid pace and complexity of economic, technological and cultural changes require women and men to adapt and re-adapt throughout their lives--all the more so in the context of globalisation. In this era of the knowledge society--where production structure is shifting towards greater knowledge use and away from reliance on…

Responding to diminished public esteem means intensifying efforts to create an ethical college climate. Educators face these ethical challenges: managing institutions ethically; teaching ethics to students, both in class and in dealing with student behavior in an educational setting; and serving as ethical leaders for the wider community. (MSE)

Until governing boards take a more proactive stance regarding their institution's general education program, critics are likely to continue to question the quality of American higher education. Because of campus politics, it can be difficult for administrators to lead a movement toward curricular change without persistent board support.…

A discussion of accreditation in higher education looks at current external criticisms and internal weaknesses of the system and suggests that to continue this privilege of self-regulation, higher education must address issues of educational quality and revise the accreditation model to be more effective. (MSE)

Five public higher-education officials, including a former lawmaker, discuss how "citizen boards" of public colleges and universities deal with the inherent conflicts and ambiguities between the interests and ambitions of their institution and the financial, strategic, and public-policy demands of their state. They describe how they…

This article argues that the debate over the public's right to know versus a public college or university's need to make some decisions in private often generates more heat than light, and that the most important interactions put at risk by open-meeting acts and sunshine laws involve board dynamics. Some suggestions are made for minimizing this…

A recent poll of 332 university presidents, trustees, faculty, athletic coaches and representatives, and senior women sports administrators found that in intercollegiate athletics, trustees are seen as part of the problem but are also seen as having a leadership role to play. Active trustee involvement is urged. (Author/MSE)

The University of Redlands responded successfully to financial and administrative crisis by tapping institutional and community pride in the institution's stature, affirming a dual commitment to liberal education and career training, developing a new governance system, and reorganizing financial and program priorities. (MSE)

A survey of leaders in higher education management and finance indicates that critical external issues facing trustees include demographic trends, state and national education policy, public opinion, family finances, leadership, regional and sector economic performance, faculty supply, and market position. (MSE)

An annual analysis of external factors affecting higher education and its governance identified five priority areas, in descending order of importance: (1) public opinion toward higher education; (2) family income and savings rate; (3) demographic trends, particularly concerning nontraditional students; (4) national educational policy; and (5) the…

Higher education should respond to the accreditation crisis by making evaluation/accreditation sector-specific, developing a common sense of mission and standards for each sector, working with the federal government to define a supportive federal role, structuring the evaluation/accreditation process to stimulate institutional change, focusing on…

An annual national survey of college and university trustees indicates five top social, political, and economic areas of concern for higher education: public opinion about higher education; demographic trends; implications of family income and savings rate; effects of recession and unemployment; and the direction of national education policy. (MSE)