Current calls for a return to basic education may seem like a rerun from the 1950s and early 1960s, but there are important differences. (Author)

Examines history of Title I--Better Schooling for Educationally Deprived Children--program since its inception in 1965. Notes difficulties encountered by Title I in developing accountability models. Relates history to testing companies' reactions to federal policy. Discusses the history of assessment programs, what types of tests are used, and the…

Asserts that existing accountability policies assume that a single behaviorist theory is the one best system for effective education. Examines the pitfalls of the one-system approach through the examples of John Stuart Mill's utilitarian upbringing and "Gradgrindism" in Charles Dickens' novel "Hard Times." (SK)

Offers a synopsis of attempts to address questions of accountability in educational research through the development of various methods of analyzing student test data. Focuses on criticisms of value-added assessment in particular and of other assessments that rely on student test data. (SLD)

Over the past 20 years there has been agreement in religious circles that the church's economic power and ties with the corporate world entail a moral responsibility. Church leaders within the corporate-responsibility (CR) movement have taken one of two approaches to corporations and their activities. The reformist approach assumes the market and…

Although the competency based assessment "movement" has undergone intense examination and much change, the concept of the competent communicator and the difficulties associated with measuring such proficiencies remain. The progression of terminology used in the literature reflects that what began as lists of skills to be tested so that…

During two periods of expansion in higher education, the curriculum of undergraduate education has undergone major changes. Toward the end of each period of expansion, a movement for assessment has developed, with the goal of restoring coherence and substance to the undergraduate program. (MLW)

To gain perspective on current demands for accountability in England's schools, particularly the Assessment of Performance Unit (APU) proposals, the author looks at the history of school assessment procedures in England, noting that they've long played a dominant role in determining what is taught and how it is taught. (Author/SJL)

Traces the development of Dutch educational policy since the compromise of 1917, by which private and public schools were given equal financial support. Examines the extent to which neoliberal reforms of the 1980s brought about radical changes in the Dutch education system, focusing on increased autonomy, freedom of school choice, privatization,…

Three historical and developmental dimensions of teacher education foundations of education are discussed: (1) academic dimension; (2) professional dimension; and (3) client dimension. A fourth dimension, research, is also described. (CJ)

Evaluation of academic programs in higher education institutions has existed in the United States since 1640. In the succeeding 34 decades, demands for program review and accountability have led to the present development of academic program evaluation as a primary means to revise, curtail, or eliminate degree programs. (Author/MSE)

The development of academic tenure in American higher education is reviewed, based on a study by the College and University Personnel Association. The role of academic tenure as a general concept in the development of the professoriate and in the shaping of major portions of educational policy and practice is explored. (MLW)

The Baltimore New Compact Schools model offers schools an opportunity to cluster their resources, personnel, and funds. The Hirsch Core Knowledge Curriculum helps all three elementary schools compensate for disadvantaged students' lost learning time. The nonprofit Enterprise Foundation offers schools leadership, management, and technical support.…

Accreditation as a phenomena was probably initiated in this country in 1784 when New York formed its Board of Regents. Generally, however, it is the voluntary regional and professional associations that approve programs, although states may be involved. The first regional association was founded in 1885 and the first professional association…

Trends toward increasing federal involvement in higher education and the potential for additional federal mandated reporting are discussed. Areas where the relationship with the federal government has aided institutions are noted, as well as the possibility of harm to innovation and creativity. Historical developments in which government became…