This paper summarizes a panel discussion that addressed exit-exam policies and dropout issues. It presents the panel members' conclusions about existing research and their recommendations on what kinds of further work are needed. Research on how exit exams affect dropout rates is limited and inconclusive, so policies continue to be made in the…

This study investigated high school policies and practices that encourage or discourage students' enrollment in advanced mathematics courses, examining the effects of schools' graduation requirements, course offerings, and tracking practices on patterns of mathematics courses taken by high school students. Data came from the High School Transcript…

Delaware's secretary of education and the president of the State Board of Education asked Achieve to provide an analysis of the quality of Delaware's high school content standards and its course-taking requirements. In assisting Delaware in its commitment to raising the quality of its expectations for high school graduates, Achieve examined the…

The materials presented here are designed to provide background information and stimulate discussion of bilingual education in a televised town meeting held on May 9, 1996 in Sacramento, California. The meeting, one of a series, is intended as a forum for California high school students, educators, and legislators to engage in dialogue about…

State Board of Education policy in North Carolina requires students who entered the ninth grade in 1994-95 and later to meet a higher competency standard in reading and mathematics. These students must receive an Achievement Level III or above on the eighth-grade reading and mathematics tests in order to receive a North Carolina high school…

The purpose of this document is to report the performance of students in the classes of 1998 to 1005 on the more rigorous competency standard in North Carolina as of the 2000-2001 school year. This report contains aggregate and disaggregated state-level results from administrations of the North Carolina competency tests of reading and mathematics…

This booklet, on the transition of Maryland students with disabilities to life after high school, is designed to build informal partnerships for the transition planning process. It provides details about: (1) the goals and components of transition planning; (2) the participants in transition planning; (3) the timing for formal transition planning;…

This document provides basic information about the Statewide Student Assessment System in New Mexico. There are four components of the Statewide Student Assessment System that are guided by the State Department of Education. Each component serves a specific purpose and targets specific grade levels. The purpose of the reading assessment of grades…

This summary report provides information about three of New Mexico's statewide assessments in 1997-1998. In spring 1998, the CTBS5/Terra Nova Survey Plus achievement test was administered to approximately 65,000 students in grades 4, 6, and 8 as part of the New Mexico Achievement Assessment Program. With three exceptions, the median national…

Discusses "A Nation at Risk" in relation to the responsibility of college science teachers regarding the report, specifically the recommendations on content, standards and expectations, and teaching (including teacher education). Considers questions of leadership and the support of science education as political issues in the presidential and…

Issues and arguments leading to reestablishment of a foreign language requirement at Iowa State University are outlined, and the role of foreign language faculty in the process is discussed. Some personal predictions are made about the role of foreign languages in the college curriculum and beyond. A memorandum to the faculty senate is appended.…

Report on research from 18 states that concludes that high-stakes tests do not lead to higher student achievement. In addition, such tests can decrease student motivation to learn and lead to higher student retention and dropout rates. (Contains 2 figures and 21 references.) (WFA)

Presents a New England History Teachers Association survey and its results. Includes questions on curriculum, classroom materials, students, and general opinions. Concludes that teachers favor increasing history requirements to include U.S., European, and non-Western or global studies. Reports that teachers rely on locally developed activities…

The Evergreen State College is a public liberal arts college in Washington that has been named the "number one learning community" in the nation by "U.S. News & World Report." There are no grades at Evergreen; instead, faculty provide a narrative evaluation of students' performance in their courses. There are also no majors…

This report describes state educational standards in effect for the 1989-90 school year. It is the third report in a series that has tracked state standards since 1984-85. The first part of the report summarizes state educational standards for the 1989-90 school year and the changes that took place across the states between 1984-85 and 1989-90.…