The overall aim of the study was to gather evidence on effective policy reforms for broad competence development in school education, including better achievement of basic skills. The six key objectives are: Objective 1: To understand the key features of policy design and implementation of reforms for broad competence development and achievement…

Reports on the recent White House conference on arts education, where a major theme was educating the public--convincing it that the arts "are" basic education. (Editor/RK)

In 1976 African Ministers of Education proposed "basic education," defined as minimum learning needs, as the best method for mass education. Participation and integration are key elements in this strategy. A learning-needs approach to curriculum planning should concentrate on practical skills; implementation requires nontraditional…

Over the past several decades, a hegemonic conservative discourse has constructed urban school reform issues around a "basic skills" curriculum model that has helped structure class, race, and gender inequalities. This article discusses some possible organizing principles for a counterhegemonic, democratic-progressive policy discourse. The…

The symbolic function of curricular debate, as it is manifested in the minimum competency testing movement (MCT), is investigated. Curricular debate necessarily reflects the demands of the society in which it arises. The topics that are addressed spring from this milieu and the language in which issues are couched must be appropriate to it.…

The National Institute for Educational Research (NIER), Tokyo (Japan) and the Asia-Pacific Centre of Educational Innovation for Development (APEID) of the United Nations Scientific, Cultural, and Educational Organization (UNESCO) organized a regional seminar to explore issues related to secondary education in Asia and the Pacific and to formulate…

With the advancement of technology and new developments in other social aspects, education is faced with challenges to produce well-rounded citizens for the 21st century. Some of the important qualities for individuals to be successful in the new era include creativity, application, and cooperative skills. Basic education in China had demonstrated…

This working paper is a compilation of articles prepared for the Policy and the Higher Literacies Project. The two-year project examines key leverage points in state and local education policy levels and how they may promote or constrict the acquisition of higher levels of literacy for a much broader range of American students. Research strongly…

This issue summarizes Marshall S. Smith and Jennifer O'Day's "Systemic School Reform," an analytic essay discussing research into the effectiveness of current education policies and policy system development in numerous states. The essay proposes a design for a systemic state structure that supports school-site improvement efforts and is…

Philosophy and practice in gifted education are reviewed, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive planning policy which takes into account the total experience of the gifted student and the need for a differentiated curriculum. Gifted education should include basic skills, general curriculum, talent development, and interpersonal relationships…

The impact of testing and promotion standards on students in urban schools was discussed by urban school superintendents from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Pointing to research that suggests that standards alone are not enough to boost achievement, many educators recommend coupling more rigorous standards with appropriate remedial programs, staff…

Since 1969, the Oregon State Board of Education has undertaken to reverse the trend toward providing a single, rigid program for all students, regardless of their abilities, interests, needs, or learning styles. The new standards focus on the concept of providing students an opportunity to learn and demonstrate specific "survival"…

As a statement of Provincial goals and curriculum objectives for primary and junior divisions of Ontario elementary schools, this circular is intended to stimulate school self-evaluation, particularly in the basic skills area. The major responsibility for curricular planning however, rests with the school and the individual teacher. Province goals…

The papers in this compilation address excellence in vocational education from the perspectives of four educational levels--secondary, postsecondary, adult, and teacher education. The implications of the recent national study reports on education are examined for each level, and standards of excellence and recommendations for action are suggested.…

This report is an outline of a system of indicators for evaluating performance of educational systems and grows out of OECD work on social indicators. Existing statistical data on education consists of "inputs". The desire expressed in this study, however, is to measure "outputs" or actual system performance. Whenever a…