The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and understand the impact of standardized testing on educational practice in an urban, Title I school community, and to determine solutions to improve the utility of standardized testing in supporting student learning and achievement. The specific areas of focus are diagnosing…

Despite numerous quantitative studies on teachers' conceptions and practices of assessment, little research exists regarding the unique assessment environment of Indonesia. This study uses both quantitative and qualitative data to examine how Indonesian junior high school teachers understand assessment and how their conceptions of assessment…

To meet the constantly changing needs of schools and diverse learners, educators must frequently monitor student learning, revise curricula, and improve instruction. Consequently, it is critical that careful analyses of student performance data are ongoing components of curriculum decision-making processes. The primary purpose of this study is to…

Various state and national forces are influencing principal preparation programs, including competition from online for-profit institutions, teacher evaluation, school accountability, equity, and Response to Intervention mandates that require university-based leadership preparation programs to re-examine and revise program delivery and content.…

In recent years, governors, chief state school officers, business leaders, and college faculty have grown increasingly concerned that American students are not adequately prepared either for college or for the workforce. Governors and chief state school officers understood that the changing economy and persistent achievement gaps required a…

A decade ago, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology had a few simple goals. It wanted to sharpen its educational mission, broaden students' skills, improve graduates' job-placement rates, and give the institution better ammunition for proving its worth to accreditors. It turned to the "electronic portfolio," becoming one of a small but growing…

The education system in California today is unable to meet the needs of the state's economy or the expectations of its citizens. From school finance to ensuring the quality of teaching, from assessment and accountability to preparing students for college and careers, education policy today in California often works against the best interests of…

During the last twenty years, curriculum alignment activities have increased among school organizations that want to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the instructional and assessment programs. In this article, the authors discuss three important considerations that should be understood prior to curriculum development: (1) The actual…

The definition of evaluation as a process of delineating, obtaining and providing information useful for making decisions and judgments about educational programs and curricula highlights the function of evaluative information of assisting decision-making. It reflects the concept of the role of evaluation in informing action at discrete decision…

When No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was signed into law, the President and secretary of education promised sweeping reform of the American education system. In the five years since the law took effect, U.S. public schools have, indeed, seen remarkable change. However, not all of the changes have been well received. Policy makers, scholars, and…

The article reports on a study undertaken by Florida State University in cooperation with the Lewis M. Lively Area Vocational-teechnical School to develop a followup procedure in electrical and electronics programs using the followup information as a means of validating and improving the curriculum. (Author/BP)

Only if the obvious pitfalls of the accountability paradigm can be avoided can there be hope that it will work to the ultimate good of public education. (Author)

This plan is designed to review and revise the educational program of the Hicksville School District (New York) by means of a systematic approach to curriculum revision, instruction geared to learning, and the monitoring of student progress. Baseline information obtained from a curriculum inventory is a starting point for an analysis of the…

A role oriented accountability model forms the framework for evaluation and feedback in curriculum change. (Author)

Examines the high stakes of large-scale mathematics assessment practices and ways in which they are agents of change, focusing on: types of instruments used; how test design informs instructional practice; how dissemination of test information informs instructional practice; and who is responsible or accountable for results. (SM)