Teachers make a difference. Everyone--students, parents, teachers, principals and even casual observers--have always known this. But how much of a difference teachers make has only recently been estimated. Teachers are arguably the most important school factor affecting student achievement but, especially important for the purposes of this paper,…

Forms of assessment that are consistent with outcomes based education are discussed. Assessment in service to learning must inform students about their learning, provide data for teachers who plan instruction, inform parents about student progress, and provide data for policymakers. Chapter 1 of this document is "The Implications of…