In this speech, it is argued that the effect of technological, social, and economic changes poses a challenge to the system of the availability and use of public resources and the best mix of public and private funding. These issues affect teaching and research in higher education. (Author/MLW)

Missing most from the clamor for school reform is a coherent vision of what reform should encompass. School-based management, computer-assisted teaching, and higher teacher salaries won't necessarily transform children raised outside of society's mainstream into successful adults. Above all, school reform ought to serve the needs of children,…

Two periods in British higher education are compared for the approaches taken to widening educational access. It is concluded that government policy in the postwar period emphasized expansion for the purposes of labor force development, whereas more recent expansion policy reflects a government commitment to greater accountability and social…

Summarizes recent developments in educational adequacy and finance-equity court cases around the country, highlighting the differences and the relationship between traditional finance-equity claims and more recent educational adequacy claims. The most sweeping decision occurred in Alabama; a state trial court will monitor mandated reforms in…

In Michigan, highly politicized school-finance reforms and the charter-school and school-choice movements present enormous challenges for school business officials. There is greater demand for administrator accountability and credibility, an open environment, effective communication skills, efficient use of data, long-term vision,…

Discusses technology-related requirements for teacher licensure and certification, describing the Milken Exchange State-by-State Education Technology Policy Survey and examining the increasing power and influence of state professional standards boards, the move to performance-based program approval and licensing, the move to increased teacher…

Instead of inviting public engagement, the current educational system reinforces a hierarchical, bureaucratic pattern that gives neither students nor parents an official voice. Today's parents are demanding, more market-oriented, and organizing on the Internet. Strategies for fully involving parents in improvements for the common good are…

The National Association of Secondary School Principals and the American School Counselor Association concur that a school-counseling program's success requires capitalizing on counselors' training, expertise, and ability to deliver a program that contributes significantly to the school's mission and supports expectations of new standards and…

Faculties must pass through several stages when becoming learning organizations: the honeymoon, conflict, confusion, messy, scary, and mature-group stages. Mature school communities have learned to view power differently, make learning more meaningful for students, and model a just and democratic society. Consensus is the starting point. (MLH)

Discusses online teaching and how it compares to traditional face to face teaching. Topics include designing Web-based classes; the faculty perspective, including determining learning outcomes, time commitment, accountability, and library resources; and the student perspective, including expectations of faculty, time commitment, and technical…

Generalizations gleaned from 25 years of research are presented, including: change is difficult and more political than data based; expectations drive the assessment process and those expectations are far too low; purpose is critical; the link between referral and eligibility is too strong; and current classification practices are problematic.…

This commentary reacts to an article that presented an agenda for educational change to encourage early childhood inclusion. It discusses the need for a bottom-up approach, as well as a top-down approach, to ensure accountability in educational reform. The need for increased accountability in the research community is also stressed. (Contains…

This article describes the activities of a national group of assistive technology professionals known as the Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services (QIAT) Consortium. The work of the Consortium is discussed and the current set of indicators is included. Processes used in the development of the indicators are described. (Contains…

This reaction to an article (Bailey, 2001) that describes three potential levels of accountability for providing family support in early intervention and preschool programs, recommends helping all family members of children with disabilities, helping parents identify programs in the community, and identifying the most appropriate professionals for…

A study of resource distribution in California's public schools found that average class size differs little across schools; however, teacher preparation and high-school curricula (particularly advanced-placement coursework) vary considerably. Schools serving more disadvantaged student populations receive fewer resources, including highly…