American colleges and universities will play an increasingly important role in revitalizing a national sense of identity and community. Judicial affairs offices can contribute to that process by helping students define and protect values essential to community life. (Author)

Discusses the quality of school-level data collected as part of state accountability systems, including the reliability and validity of school-level test scores as a measure of the value added by schools to student learning, outlining ways that these data can be usefully analyzed; illustrating challenges inherent in doing so; and discussing…

Describes design features of group learning activities. Includes providing open-ended tasks, multiple ways to demonstrate competence, discipline-based content, creative and supportive interdependence and individual accountability, and clear evaluation criteria. (Contains 11 references.) (PKP)

Argues that three major educational reform efforts since "Risk," overlooked or underappreciated by Koret Task Force, are now seeing results: State standards and accountability, advances in research on cognitive development of young children, and efforts to improve teacher quality. Disagrees with task-force assertion that more money will…

Describes how Skagit Valley College (Washington) addresses program-level learning outcomes assessment. Reports that the activities and requirements related to the college's participation in the League for Innovation in the Community Colleges' 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project have encouraged a more comprehensive assessment effort. (Contains…

Australians were reluctant to become involved in the school-effectiveness approach because of concerns about standardized testing procedures. Driven by economic considerations, some large-scale effectiveness research projects have been commissioned by Commonwealth and state governments. Recent reports show evidence of close links between school…

As an emerging profession, economic development has standards of professionalism that are not yet completely defined. Demands for recognition and expectations of greater accountability are leading to necessary improvements in training and performance. Requirements of the profession include unique interdisciplinary skills (leadership, theoretical,…

In exchange for $8-12-million from the state, historically black Texas Southern University has agreed to maintain a schedule to fix financial problems threatening the institution and keep it from state control. Three-quarters of students receive aid. Lax financial accountability is a long-time problem. The university's historic role in educating…

Discussion of the accountability of university libraries and assessment methods to show library effectiveness focuses on two assessment tools developed at Bowling Green State University: one program-level assessment which involved a student library skills assessment survey; and one class-level assessment which involved one-shot library instruction…

Developed a zero-to-five index of the strength of accountability in 50 states based on the use of high stakes testing to sanction and reward schools and analyzed whether that index is related to student gains on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics test in 1996-2000. Findings show that students in high accountability…

Sixty-one interns, who completed the Master of School Administration program at a North Carolina university, and their 49 principal-mentors, when asked what interpersonal and professional characteristics and assignment concerns they perceive as important when selecting and assigning mentors, listed strong leadership abilities and high…

Addresses three questions: (1) What is high quality geography teaching in higher education; (2) how can high quality teaching be identified and evaluated; and (3) to what extent are faculty and departments held accountable for teaching quality? Explores how the answers to these questions vary between the United Kingdom and the United States. (CMK)

Organizations should envision accreditation as an opportunity for growth and learning. Accreditation can distinguish an organization by improving its ability to attract resources, employees, and customers. Accredited organizations gain credibility with the public. Accreditation can serve as a mechanism for marketing and referrals. Accreditation…

The recent demand for more accountability from public libraries has made it essential that true cost-benefit analysis be applied to their operations. The authors developed a cost-benefit analysis methodology and applied it to five large public library systems. This article describes ongoing research to modify their methodologies to make them…

Describes the roles of science leaders in identifying and implementing meaningful solutions to systemic weaknesses. Discusses accountability's impact on science leadership and collaboration for enacting reform. (Contains 16 references.) (YDS)