Suggests that many aspects of quality assurance in health care can be applied to social service agencies. Reviews what has been learned about quality assurance in health care and suggests guidelines for its implementation in social services. (Author/JAC)

The debate on accountability in terms of the nature and problems of higher education in Great Britain is reviewed. The extent to which validation serves as a means of accountability, and the question of whether the British political system can maintain its role in accountability is discussed. (MLW)

The consumer of a service is of primary importance when defining groups most concerned with program impact. Program effectiveness for the consumer may be increased through the use of certain guiding principles based on the extension of existing quality assurance and program evaluation methodologies. (Author/RL)

Suggests that behavioral objectives and minimum competency testing can be effective for monitoring elementary students' mastery of basic skills, but to carry this system into the upper grades and other subject areas risks stultifying learning and inhibiting the free atmosphere that complex thinking and social education require. (SJL)

On the basis of information obtained from a study of former mental patients (which was conducted under a research grant from the state of Florida), the authors point out the critical need for more comprehensive management information systems. Twelve specific steps for designing such a system are outlined. (Author/JH)

The concept of accountability and its application to Australian higher education are discussed. It is suggested that due to political, financial, and educational characteristics of tertiary education at the national system level there are fundamental and insoluble problems associated with achieving accountability. (SF)

Argues that packaged programs and packaged policy in public school districts are factors working against the improvement of teacher quality. Suggests a reevaluation of priorities in which efforts are made to attract and keep intelligent, creative people in teaching. Discussed are programmed materials, normative testing, behavioral objectives,…

Reviews the role of accreditation in American higher education and shortcomings related to its inconsistency and lack of rigor. Discusses the 1996 creation of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to oversee accreditation activities. Describes CHEA's organizational structure and analyzes its impact on accreditation and educational…

This article defines accountability in the physical education profession, describes problems related to pursuing accountability, and describes basic steps necessary to achieve change in the organic, psychomotor, cognitive, and affective behaviors of students. (IAH)

Examines the development of the movement toward accountability in public higher education and its implication for Master of Public Administration (MPA) programs. Analyzes prior and existing efforts to ensure and assess quality in MPA programs and the different forms that outcome assessment might take and describes assessment techniques.…

Before implementing an instructional program in the Rowland (California) school district, planners must define success in terms of measurable student performance, calculates resources expended in relation to the expected benefits, and determine how long it will take the program to achieve the desired results. Baseline data are then compared to new…

Faced with low literacy levels, four schools in Santa Clara, California, decreed that every entering kindergartner would be a competent reader by the end of second grade. The schools then implemented the 1,000 Days Network--an uninterrupted morning literacy block tailored to children's needs. Preliminary results are encouraging. (MLH)