In this article, the author investigates whether an alternative grading system (contract grading) would yield the same final grades as traditional grading (letter grading), and whether or not it would be accepted by students. The author states that this study demonstrated that contract grading was widely, and for the most part, enthusiastically…

Instructors at community colleges around Virginia have been assessing student learning informally and formally since their opening, but recently, with renewed emphasis on accountability and documentation, a group of faculty and administrators were brought together to study the assessment process and develop procedures to ensure that…

The contents of this issue consist of articles concerning various facets of the teaching of reading. A guest article by Patrick Groff is entitled "Phonics Teachers: Join the Consumer Movement." Other articles focus on volunteers in public schools, the high risk child, the importance of good vision, the testing of tests, the…

Aspects of design and procedures used in the evaluation of a performance contract are discussed, and the project and findings are briefly summarized. The Virginia performance contract in reading was carried out in seven school districts. Evaluation of the project showed that although instructional changes that utilized desirable individualized…

In its valiant differentiation and detracking efforts, a Virginia high school hoped to assist all students in mastering state standards and enrich, excite, and challenge high-ability students via learning contracts and advanced material feeding their interests. However, disgruntled parents managed to reinstate the tracking system. (MLH)

This Report describes a performance contracting program in Norfolk, Virginia; presents its results; and draws some inferences about the utility of performance contracting as a means for improving education. Participants were students from grades 7-9 in one junior high school and from grades 4-6 in one elementary school; both schools were in the…

This document is intended as a template for individuals initiating and developing adult education distance learning programs. The introduction discusses the following issues: benefits of distance learning; flexibility; confidentiality; retention; and the best students to target. The template and supplementary materials are organized in five…