Purpose: In the USA, as elsewhere, there is an ongoing need to improve quality in higher education. Quality improvement models from business have not been widely embraced, and many other approaches to accountability seem to induce minimal compliance. This paper aims to contend that learning communities represent a viable alternative in the quest…

This booklet, based on school and community experiences in the state of Washington, was written to provide practical strategies to enable teachers and administrators to enrich instruction through service and service learning. Filled with vignettes and examples of service learning that is taking place in Washington schools, the booklet includes…

This manual offers a multicultural basic skills curriculum for Grades K-12 in Washington State schools, and provides student learning goals. A brief introduction describes the curriculum model and defines multicultural education as a perspective and process which can be integrated with any of the basic skill content areas. The remainder of the…

This handbook presents information for the use of Washington State school districts and schools in the development of physical education programs that conform with Federal and State regulations regarding sex equity. It consists of five major sections which provide, respectively: (1) State legislation pertaining to education, physical education,…

This guidebook provides the elements of curriculum that will help educators prepare students for careers in the field of information technology (IT). The introduction addresses national context, skill standards development, and educational response to the skills gap. The high school core IT curriculum is then presented, including: (1) project…

This study, which resulted in a revised music curriculum for the Snohomish, Washington, School District, addressed the problem of relating the measurement and evaluation of students in music courses to established student learning objectives. Part 1 establishes student learning objectives based on a proposed curriculum for a comprehensive K-12…

This project was conducted to develop a word processing certificate program for community colleges in Washington, using existing courses within their business departments. Following a review of literature and of other curriculum materials, course objectives were developed, and outlines of the course were written. The program was evaluated and…

Three sequences of coursework are detailed in the curriculum development guidelines provided in this document. The 4-year sequence, structured around problem-solving, applications, and the acquisition of theory, is designed for the college-bound student who plans to enter a mathematics-based field of study. The 3-year sequence is designed for…

This report presents a plan for nursing education in the State of Washington that would help in alleviating the shortage of nurses in the state. The plan addresses the current status of nursing education and critical issues pertaining to the following: (1) the geographic availability of nursing education and training programs; (2) curriculum…

This curriculum guide aims to provide a beginning process for developing a K-12 balanced, comprehensive, and sequential arts curriculum for all students. Dance, drama, music, and the visual arts are treated as distinct and separate disciplines although five common goals and corresponding learning process components have been identified. The goals…

Designed with the new teacher in mind, this kindergarten curriculum guide begins Part I with a statement of beliefs and goals guiding educational practice and lists needs and characteristics of kindergarten children. Part II focuses on preparing for the school year and offers information to help teachers become oriented to unfamiliar school…

This guide is intended to provide resources for integrating technology into the K-12 music curriculum. The focus of the guide is on computer software and the use of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in the music classroom. The guide gives two examples of commercially available curricula that integrate technology as well as lesson plans…

This guide is intended to serve as a resource for business education instructors who are teaching a course in information processing for the automated office. The following topics are covered: program goals, student learning objectives for production applications, an introduction to production applications, a curriculum outline, student learning…

The major thrust of the third American Indian Culture-Based Curriculum Workshop was the development of ideas and materials oriented toward American Indian stories and legends in such a manner that librarians could acquire the needed skills and knowledge to ensure their authenticity and proficiency of presentations to both Indian and non-Indian…

The education reform movement has inspired an impressive array of school improvement programs. This article categorizes these intitiatives, summarizes policy directions, explores recent state curriculum guidelines and Northwest trends, and discusses implementation challenges. According to an Education Commission of the States study, most…