Craig Simmons, an assistant principal in Atlanta, discusses the setup and role of curriculum vetting teams in schools. When well-structured, he says, such committees can be effective in maintaining curricular alignment and quality at a time when many teachers download supplementary materials from the internet. They can also save teachers' time and…

The Common Core State Standards have been adopted by 46 states and the District of Columbia. They enjoy a huge following of well-wishers and supporters who are optimistic that the standards will boost achievement in U.S. schools. Setting aside the cheerleading and fond hopes, what are the real chances of success? The most reasonable prediction is…

A former Teach for America recruit who completed her training in a university-based program compares the two approaches to teacher preparation. In Teach for America, she learned how to design units and prepare lesson plans; in her university-based program, she had the time to learn from master teachers and build valuable skills, then practice…

Professionals with specialized training are not the only ones capable of evaluation. Increasingly evident is the skillful use in curriculum evaluation of a variety of qualitative methods by interested people. (Author/MLF)

Holds that the person is central to evaluation and that persons have the power to experience meanings that they perceive, create, discover, enjoy, and act on. Explores the possible meanings that persons give to evaluation and considers the significance of the meanings for evaluation. (Author/JG)

The Systematic Monitoring Process for Learning (SMPL) monitors changes in teacher and student activities that occur between the introduction of a new program and the final evaluation of student achievement. (Author/MLF)

Curriculum mapping breaks with traditional curriculum practices by revealing what is actually being taught, how long it is being taught, and the match between what is being taught and the district's testing program. (Author/MLF)

Argues that how curriculum evaluations are conducted is more important than who conducts them, and stresses the need to make evaluations more systematic, more public, and more sensitive to differences in data needs at the various levels of decision making inherent in groups. (Author/JG)

Feasible uses of the computer in curriculum management are in the areas of curriculum planning, curriculum implementation, and curriculum evaluation. (Author/CB)

A flexible approach to curriculum development begins with staff development, uses curriculum mapping, and results in a loose-leaf notebook useful to teachers. (Author)

A primary goal of any economics program should be a strong commitment to citizenship education. Other criteria are development of critical thinking skills, emphasis on basic conceptual tools of economics, objectivity of the materials, variety of instructional approaches, local curriculum goals, and a strong evaluation component. (Author/MLF)

Discusses the type of fragmentation taking place in the curriculum, examines some of the forces causing it, and considers the educational effects. (Author/MLF)

In response to a 1983-84 school board mandate to evaluate its K-12 science program, a Maryland public school system invited local scientists, administrators, science teachers, parents, students, and graduates to serve as evaluators. The same community-based model was subsequently used to evaluate the mathematics program. (MLH)

By identifying evaluation activity in relation to one or more specified curriculum problems, it should be possible to make evaluation something other than an escape route from uncomfortable criticism or a mirror reflecting only those images that please ourselves. (Author)