The University of Chicago met widespread national opposition ten years ago after it instituted a new, less demanding core curriculum to make way for more electives. It was part of a plan to make the curriculum significantly less demanding in order to attract more students and improve the school's bottom line in a time of putative budget deficits.…

The expectations for no child to be left behind are leading to increased emphasis on teaching math, science, and social science effectively to students with disabilities. This study utilized information collected from online surveys to examine how current LBS I teachers and individuals graduating from the Illinois State University teacher…

This exploration into competency-based innovation at the school, district, and state levels suggests that competency-based pathways are a re-engineering of this nation's education system around learning--a re-engineering designed for success in which failure is no longer viable. This discussion draws on interviews and site visits with innovators…

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) documents dimensions of quality in undergraduate education and provides information and assistance to colleges, universities, and other organizations to improve student learning. Its primary activity is annually surveying college students to assess the extent to which they engage in educational…

A statewide survey was conducted to determine the availability of a career development course at the high school level in Illinois. The participants in the study were the directors of vocational education in the 597 high school districts that submitted Local Plans for Vocational Education to the Illinois State Board of Education in FY 1984. They…

This report synthesizes two research projects initiated by the Illinois State Board of Education on the development of a definition of schooling and on the analysis of mandates implemented by the state for special education, bilingual education, and instructional programs in elementary and secondary schools. The report is presented in five…

Part of a comprehensive state study, this report assesses the scope and content of Illinois instructional requirements and offers preliminary recommendations toward improving the public school instructional program. Sources of information include state regulations, interviews, historical documents, statistical data, and analysis of other states'…

Designed to meet Illinois state law requirements for consumer education to be taught before graduation from high school, this guide outlines the major topics to be included in the mandatory nine weeks of consumer education. Because the law neither stipulates a specific grade level for this material, nor requires its introduction as a separate…

This booklet offers a census of course offerings and enrollments in social studies in junior and senior high schools in Illinois. It is part of a series of reports surveying statewide basic curriculum data. Data were collected in 1977 from 459 public junior high schools and 704 public high schools. The document is intended for use by school…

On account of concern about declining achievement levels of high school graduates and proposed state legislation increasing graduation requirements to address this concern, this report analyzes current and proposed high school graduation requirements in Illinois, based on data compiled from local school documents, and compares the data to…

This publication is composed of a series of teaching source units recommended to assist in the improvement of the quality of citizens' participation in local advisory councils or committees. The content is designed to be used by an instructor with a group of citizens who desire to become more knowledgeable about their role and function. The…

As part of a comprehensive study of all mandates placed by the state of Illinois on elementary and secondary education, an analysis was undertaken of the school day/school year mandate in its historical perspective, inquiring into its original purpose, how well that purpose has been served, whether the mandate is still needed, and whether a…

A two-phase curriculum project was undertaken in Illinois to develop, test, and implement a two-year competency-based model for the education of secondary school building construction teachers in the area of residential structures. During the first contract period, skill and knowledge competencies were identified and validated for thirteen units…