Describes five major criteria, set by the North Central Association Commission on Schools (NCA), that must be present in order for a school to maintain accreditation. Reviews three endorsements provided by the NCA--school improvement, outcomes, and transitions--that attempt to help schools engage in a continuous improvement program. (JDI)

Reports on a variety of assessment and professional in-service programs being implemented at six K-12 schools in the states of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Arizona. Describes key program features as well as the processes of program development. (JDI)

Summarizes an analysis of the outcomes endorsement improvement cycles of 120 schools. Provides results in standard scores on goal types as well as goal selection and testing patterns. Asserts that the outcomes endorsement process is improving student achievement. Includes seven data tables. (JDI)

Describes the implementation of the Missouri School Improvement Process in the Springfield School District in Missouri. Suggests that supplementing the outside-school-district evaluators with in-school-district auxiliary evaluators greatly contributed to the success of the outcomes process in Springfield. (JDI)