During the late 1990s and 2000s, the State of Florida enacted a set of education reforms spearheaded by Governor Jeb Bush. These policies, which emphasize test-based accountability, competition, and choice, have since become known as the "Florida Formula for education success," or, simply, the "Florida Formula." In recent…

In communities including New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Chicago, educators are creating alternative schools for struggling students that employ online credit-recovery programs as a core portion, or all, of their curriculum. The growth in online learning generally, including blended learning, has fueled the proliferation of computer-based credit…

This report is in response to the requirement of RCW 28A.150.550 that the State Board of Education, with assistance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB), the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC), and the Washington…

Electronic portfolios have become increasingly popular. The value of a portfolio, though, depends on how, when, and why students create, submit, and have their portfolios evaluated. In the following paper, we describe how we redesigned a program's assessment and evaluation plan around the use of electronic portfolios and a system of gates focusing…

This publication is an ECS (Education Commission of the States) "read of the field," built on its scrutiny of new reports and research, and its analysis of emerging drivers of change. This publication is intended to stimulate thinking around how best to craft the "2.0" of powerful policy across the states. The 12 policy areas highlighted in this…

Examines trends in the incidence of retention, remediation, and identification of students as handicapped in 12 New York State elementary schools across a period of high-stakes assessment and public accountability (1978-79 to 1988-89). A significant increase in the proportion of children retained in grade or identified as handicapped occurred…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) "From No Child Left Behind to Every Child a Graduate": New Alliance Report Outlines Policy Framework for…

This paper provides the background for and provisions of the accountability materials that were authorized by the Louisiana Bureau of Elementary Education to monitor schools' compliance with the Louisiana Competency Based Education Law. In order effectively to manage the two major components of the law--the Pupil Progression Plans and the…

In 1991, the Oklahoma State Regents adopted the Student Assessment Policy, which required each higher education institution to develop and implement a comprehensive assessment program with mandatory student placement. This is the eighth annual student remediation report. Data are for the 1998-99 academic year. Most data were collected from the…

The document contains three papers presented at the Annual International Convention of the Council for Exceptional Children in 1979, on the establishment, function, and impact of a preschool speech, language, and hearing program (the Preschool Speech, Language and Hearing Program of the School District of Philadelphia). The first paper, "The…

New Jersey requires an annual evaluation and classification of schools based on: development and implementation of an educational plan, achievement of statewide standards in basic skills, and compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. Guidelines for the evaluation criteria and procedures are given. Data are collected through the…

Accountability based on reading scores will only demoralize teachers who are trying hard in disadvantaged schools. A better response to reading failure would include improved teacher training and placement, ability grouping, reduced class size, adequate specialist support, and kindergarten reading. PS 209 in Queens utilizes several of these…

This report represents the first attempt by the Council of the Great City Schools to assess the states of minimal competency testing in its twenty-eight member cities. This report does not focus on the results of the tests, but on the general characteristics of each competency testing program. Few cities use the same tests or collaborate in…

Designed to provide direction for postsecondary education in Alaska for the next 5 years, this statewide plan analyzes the present status of postsecondary education in the state and offers goals and strategies for the future. Following an executive summary of goals and strategies, the report presents an introduction to the growth of postsecondary…

"Higher Education Counts" is the annual accountability report on Connecticut's state system of higher education, as required under Connecticut General Statutes Section 10a-6a. The report contains accountability measures developed through the Performance Measures Task Force and approved by the Board of Governors for Higher Education. The…