Colleges and universities currently face challenges in the form of calls for increased accountability, clear economic outcomes and return on investments in education. These challenges emanate from many sectors, including students and families, employers in industry, and state and federal governments. The language of these calls for accountability…

This paper presents the research design, rationale, and the results of a historical document-based research project to answer the following two-part question: How do popular and dominant political, social, and economic forces affect the creation and delivery of American history curriculum in public schools between 1890 and 1920 and how is this…

The initiative called Setting the Direction for Special Education in Alberta was established in the spring of 2008 and is intended to lead the creation of a new paradigm for special education to serve school authorities in their work to support students with special education needs. The primary aids of of this initiative are to develop a special…

The reality that no one wants to leave anyone behind is the one fact that everyone--educators, politicians, moms, dads and the media--can agree on. However, U.S. schools' narrowing focus on reading, math and science test scores may be putting this generation of learners even more at risk, according to some of the leading thinkers in society today.…

Throughout nearly 300 years of policymaking in the United States, educators have promoted eight broad goals of schooling: basic academic skills, critical thinking and problem solving, social skills and work ethic, citizenship, physical health, emotional health, the arts and literature, and preparation for skilled employment. A recent survey about…

The purpose of this guide is to provide some background on the Setting the Direction for Special Education in Alberta project. Phase 1 of the project, thoughts are wanted about what an education community that truly meets the needs of each student should look like. Alberta Education wants to create a fresh vision for providing those additional…

As Americans near the end of the first decade of the new millennium, higher education in the United States is caught in a classic "good news/bad news" dilemma. The good news? Broad recognition of the importance of higher education to the country's future, along with larger federal funding increases than at any time in their history. The bad news?…

It is suggested that educational objectives lack clarity since they are caught between the paradigms of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A qualitative evaluation process is proposed, wherein rationale theory is compared to practice. Quantitative information may constitute part of the data, but is not an objective in itself. (AEF)

Author focused on the basic principles that should inform educational theory and methodology. (Author/RK)

The lack of a documented science of technology of education is discussed and new research approaches gaining credibility and pointing to a more positive direction for scientific inquiry are outlined. (JMF)

A seminar was held to review early childhood objectives in the context of accountability and to discuss ways to translate these objectives into a practical form. An introductory session listed basic principles underlying early childhood care and education at New Zealand's Trust centers. Subsequent presentations provided: (1) a literature review of…

Freedom and accountability are not antithetical; they are equal elements and complementary principles in the educational equation to protect the productive pluralism of the student, the teacher, the administrator, and the institution. Pluralism is a critical value to be preserved and promoted through public policy decisions which emphasize freedom…

This position paper presents the beliefs of the California Association of Teachers of English about priorities and goals in the teaching of the English language arts. The first section of the paper describes desirable objectives and practices in teaching many aspects of language study, oral and written composing, and reading; it then examines…

What difference are we making? How do we know? How can we show it? These questions about program performance are asked by adult literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers, program administrators, and funders. This guide is designed to be used by local adult education programs to facilitate a systematic inquiry process…

Against a general backdrop of an international discourse on educational reform that has focused on accountability, this article provides a detailed and critical analysis of the evolution of accountability policy and practice in Irish primary and post-primary education during the past 20 years. The analysis indicates clearly that national policy…