School district takeovers--when a state education agency (SEA) assumes control of a low-performing district--are the most aggressive accountability intervention available to SEAs. Much of the scholarship on takeovers has been skeptical on both normative and pragmatic grounds, but these analyses don't wrestle with what else to do when students'…

This paper sets out the main findings of the International Instructional Systems Study (IISS), conducted by the UCL Institute of Education and funded by the Center on International Education Benchmarking (CIEB). The study examined the instructional systems and intended curricula of six "high performing" countries and two US states. The…

The Chinese National Quality Course Plan is a large-scale project by the Ministry of Education, which has led to the production of more than 12,000 courses from some 700 universities since 2003. This paper describes in detail the purpose of the project and how it is organized at all levels, including how individual courses get selected at…

The report examines the initiatives of state education agencies in the Northeast and Islands Region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Virgin Islands) to support data-driven decisionmaking in districts and schools and describes the service providers hired to support this work. Four…

The report examines the initiatives of state education agencies in the Northeast and Islands Region to support data-driven decisionmaking in districts and schools and describes the service providers hired to support this work. Four components of data-driven decisionmaking initiatives are identified: (1) Centralized data system/warehouse; (2) Tools…

Describes how the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, has physically connected, with a public pedestrian mall, two diverse and isolated neighborhoods. These neighborhoods have common facilities to house and accommodate centralized community services; and broad programs for educational, cultural, and social activities. (Author/DN)

This evaluation was conducted to review library service to Massachusetts state institutions and to examine levels of present or potential cooperation among all types of libraries. Based on interviews and questionnaires, the study is divided into three areas: resources for all types of libraries, service to state institutions, and library service…

The Education Cooperative (TEC) composed of nine contiguous Massachusetts towns (Dedham, Natick, Needham, Norwood, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, and Westwood) is exploring the possible development of a regional transportation system to serve the special education pupils within these communities. This report describes the planning required…

The creation of the Massachusetts Board of Regents by legislative act in 1980 marked a major departure from a loosely coordinated system of higher education that had been in place in the state since 1965. The new public system created a central governing board with strong budgetary and program authority. (MLW)

While private institutions flourished in Massachusetts, it is suggested, there was little interest in developing state-supported institutions of higher education. The comprehensive overhaul of an uncoordinated network of 28 institutions on 30 campuses governed by six autonomous boards is described. (MLW)

This report deals with school district collaboration and organization that can take place now and which could influence in a positive and constructive way school district change in Massachusetts. The Governor's Commission established associations with selected study sites across the State in 1973-74, and these study sites assisted them in…

In New England, school districts often look toward cooperative agreements as alternatives to further consolidation or "bigness." Cooperatives and collaboratives in Massachusetts are viewed as a politically acceptable alternative to further reorganization through consolidation. The emergence of collaboratives and the enactment of six…

Reviews precedents, at the state level, to the movement for education reform. Reports, by year and state, on first reactions to reform. Outlines topics touched by state reform efforts, summarizes unifying themes, and predicts the future of reform. Includes a table of states requiring testing for initial certification of teachers. (IW)