Studies of Texas' testing program, initiated in 1992, identify several factors contributing to improved achievement: alignment with state standards; results that inform instruction; understandable, attainable rating systems that encourage improvements for all populations; balance between school/student accountability; stable, yet improvable…

Under North Carolina's ABC's accountability program, public schools are labeled "exemplary,""meets expectations,""adequate performance," or "low performance." Teachers are given $1,500 bonuses if their schools exceed expectations. A survey found that mandated tests increased student anxiety and negatively…

Much of the discussion in the news, schools and statehouses about the NO Child Left Behind Act has focused on testing and accountability, and whether there is enough money to fund the act sufficiently. However, bubbling underneath this publicity is a term that has the potential to cause a minor ripple on the surface or to erupt like ah underwater…

This article reports on a survey examining the state of knowledge and practice about how universities provide evidence of the effectiveness of their programs to schools, parents, policy makers, and the public. The project asked three questions: What is happening? What is promising? What is believable? The survey focused on two areas: results and…

This Guide is intended to share the insights of SEDL's National Partnership for Quality Afterschool Learning (the National Partnership) as well as information about both the academic and the organizational and management practices that successful afterschool programs use. The authors have organized these practices into the following four focus…

This chapter examines lessons learned by states that are using student unit record (SUR) data to improve outcomes for community college students and recommends steps states can take to strengthen their use of SUR databases to benefit students and communities. (Contains 1 exhibit.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to extend the research of Michael, Schwartz, and Balraj pertaining to presidential effectiveness. Faculty senate chairpersons, academic deans, senior-level institutional officers, and student leaders were surveyed in order to ascertain whether there was a relationship between stakeholders' perceptions and…

This report presents findings of an evaluation, conducted in 1994, of 10 Leadership in Accountability Demonstration (LAD) schools in the San Diego City Schools. The report provides information on the status of accountability implementation, particularly regarding the schools' recognition and intervention practices. The evaluation sought to…

For what and to whom vocational education teachers are accountable is discussed in terms of the educational, governmental, business, and industrial subsystems that are involved with vocational education programs. (LH)

Contends that the application of principles and analytical techniques of economics shows higher education to be generally more productive than other private and public enterprises. Suggests how institutions that exploit productive opportunities, which increase the value of student-embodied abilities to create and produce, will survive and prosper.…

Suggests that given the current weaknesses in empirical bases for specifying competencies and the problems with assessment, the first rule of individuals and groups with power or influence in education would be not to legislate competencies or objectives and not to legislate competency based education. (Author/AM)

The increase in the number of programs available for the deaf blind requires the setting of standards for evaluating program effectiveness. (Author/LH)

International sources suggest that Australian human service agencies must implement meaningful processes to meet increasing demands for accountability in service delivery. The development of adequate services for the disabled in Australia is influenced by the principles of normalization--the use of culturally valued means in order to enable,…

The Minnesota State High School League administers a program of competitive athletic, musical, speech, and dramatics activities at district, region, and state levels. The league is a voluntary association of 433 public and 49 private schools. This monograph reports on a study of the league in regard to two questions: (1) Are policy-making and…