Describes the Florida Educational Accountability Act of 1976. The purpose of the act is to validate the high school diploma, thereby improving the quality of public education and eliminating the continued need for social promotion. (Author/MLF)

The author advises a cautious return to the basics through making sure that teachers in all disciplines emphasize basic skills. He cautions against curtailing variety in curriculum as a way of going back to basics. (DS)

Although competency-based graduation programs possess an intuitive appeal because of their clearly specified outcomes, external evaluation provision, and quality control mechanisms, they do pose a number of student evaluation problems which have rarely been encountered in American education. This discussion is concerned with such problems. (Author)

Before 1949, education was largely ignored in China, but recently it has been given a priority almost equal to modern industrialization. Teacher education reforms have been extensive and varied. These reforms are described, and further challenges are outlined. (MT)

Describes initiatives undertaken in Ohio vocational education in response to changes in state standards for high school graduation and college admission and the need for improvement in basic skills. (SK)

It is proposed that high school diplomas be awarded based on specific competencies in broad subject areas (e.g., academic, business, fine arts, service, and technical skills), and that required coursework be developed in each competency area, defined by the school district, and combined with general education in the curriculum. (MSE)

Argues for more foreign language instruction in American schools. (FL)

Samples of handicapped and nonhandicapped pupils were compared on the following: initial Minimum Competency Test (MCT) performance, participation in remediation, improvements in subsequent MCT, and eligibility for receiving high school diplomas. Nonhandicapped pupils generally fared better on all measures, although sharp differences were found…

Considerable concern is focused today on whether the twelfth grade program meets the needs of today's students. Cites some reasons for the concern and some actions that can be taken to overcome it. (Editor)

This manual provides a synthesis of research-based dropout prevention and intervention and offers examples of interventions that show evidence of effectiveness. This has proven to be a difficult task because the intervention research on dropout and school completion that can be used to inform practice is incomplete (Dynarski & Gleason, 2002;…

America's high schools play an integral role in preparing students for college and work in the 21st century. High school success is more important than ever for the health of our economy, for civic life, and to ensure equal opportunity. Unfortunately, the quality of state high school graduation and dropout data is such that most states cannot…

This study tabulated U.S. Census Bureau survey data to track changes in the educational profile of the adult foreign-born population from 1970-2000. The data measured completed education for individuals over the age of 24 years. A comparison of native-born Americans of any race or ethnicity to Hispanic foreign-born adults from 1970-2000 showed a…

Along with assessing the value of a program, evaluations should aid in decision making, support change management, and improve processes. For an evaluation to effect change, three conditions should occur: informing, collaborating, and mixing. The evaluation of a Wheaton College (Massachusetts) graduation requirement that students complete a…

To graduate from High School in the state of Texas students must pass the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test. Many states are beginning to administer state exams as requirements for graduation. Schools continue to fall short of the basic philosophy of Existentialism that emphasizes, "starting where the student is".…

This study explored the phenomenon of dropping out of high school from the perspective of those who strayed. The voices of four recent dropouts were audiotaped and examined through an interpretive ecological lens designed to explore dropping out within the context of the school community. Informants were asked to describe their school histories,…