This report examines pay systems for teachers, focusing on knowledge and skill-based systems. Such systems reward teachers with base increases or bonuses for acquiring and demonstrating specific knowledge and skills needed to meet educational goals such as improving student achievement. The report examines a study of 6 school districts and one…

In recent years, various state education departments have recommended the use of portfolios, an alternative assessment measure, as a means by which teacher education programs focus, guide, and document teachers' progress toward specific standards for performance. This paper describes the design and development of a student assessment portfolio for…

Developed by classroom teachers during the development phase of Minnesota's Graduation Standards, this performance package is made up of locally designed assignments that, taken together, show whether a student has learned and can apply the knowledge and skills related to comprehending, interpreting, and evaluating complex information. It begins…

Developed by classroom teachers during the development phase of Minnesota's Graduation Standards, this performance package is made up of locally designed assignments that, taken together, show whether a student has learned and can apply the knowledge and skills related to writing for a variety of academic and technical purposes, situations, and…

The purpose of this report is to provide information about the level of student performance in the area of writing based on results from the annual on-demand writing sample required during the North Carolina Writing Assessment at grades 4 and 7 for 2001-02. The report was generated using aggregate student data from North Carolina public schools,…

This guide is designed to link New York's learning standards with curriculum goals and objectives developed by adult education (AE) practitioners. It includes learning standards for English language arts (ELA) and mathematics, two areas identified by AE practitioners as the most important for beginning adult learners. Also provided are curriculum…

The study of U.S. history from 1877, taught in Mississippi secondary schools, builds on the study of U.S. history before 1877, offered in the eighth grade. Mississippi students, through studying U.S. history from 1877, gain an historical perspective of the nation's past. The study of the United States concentrates on cause-and-effect relationships…

This paper asserts that with the new NCATE 2000 standards placing a major emphasis on performance assessment, particularly regarding the impact college and university teacher education programs have on learners, it is essential that teacher education programs develop evaluation plans that include reliable, valid assessments focusing on the…

The Blue Ribbon Schools (BRS) program was designed in 1982 with three purposes in mind: to identify and recognize outstanding schools; to provide schools a tool and criteria for self-assessment and improvement; and to facilitate the sharing of best practices among schools. This book presents profiles and best practices of 12 elementary, 2 middle,…

This paper summarizes work from a dissertation that examines the determinants of public school performance, focusing on the roles of incentives and parental involvement. The thesis presents theory and related empirics. In the theory, it analyzes the effects of competition on public school productivity, with and without parental involvement, as…

The League for Innovation in the Community College reports annually on the College and Career Transitions Initiative (CCTI), which is administered by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education. However, the report does not represent the positions or policies of Federal Government. This document was created to…

This paper offers an alternative ranking of top American research universities, criticizing the methodology used by US News & World Report and its commercialization. It begins by questioning two "givens"--the American pursuit of the "best" and the rankings "game" of trying to define the best colleges and…

This guide addresses various aspects of authentic assessment as it is used in vocational education. The guide contains five chapters, each written by different authors. Following an overview and definitions of terms by Rodney L. Custer, John W. Schell discusses the theoretical foundations of authentic assessment, reviewing psychological,…

This paper examines Florida's standards-driven performance assessment, emphasizing teacher preparation, and touching on K-12 accountability. Florida's educational reform and accountability efforts are driven by the Florida System of School Improvement and Accountability document. The system is derived from state goals similar to the national Goals…

This paper chronicles the development of national performance-based, subject matter knowledge and competencies standards for the preparation of new social studies teachers, exploring the implications of their recent implementation by colleges and universities nationally. The standards are at the forefront of performance assessments of beginning…