This report summarizes the eighth survey of state directors of special education by the National Center on Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota. Results include all 50 states and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, American Samoa, and Palau. State directors report increased participation rates of students with disabilities in state…

States have used a variety of strategies to address financial and educational bankruptcy in public school districts and schools. The results of these intervention strategies are ambiguous. Four approaches that have been used are: (1) district takeovers; (2) mayoral control; (3) third-party partnerships; and (4) reconstitution of schools. In all,…

This paper examines the work of the education inspectorates in England and Wales. It specifically addresses the inspectorates' articulation in the Labour Party's general policy shift toward standards-driven reform. The text states that the school inspectorates have been cast as uniquely powerful regulatory agencies within the public sector and are…

A study, begun in 1996, was designed to examine policy regarding implementing curriculum reform across the nation at the state, district, and school levels. This report presents findings from phase two of the three-phase research project. The second and third phases of the research project focus, respectively, on district- and school-level efforts…

Assessment and accountability have played prominent roles in many reform efforts during the past 50 years. This digest reviews features of assessment and accountability that influence the trustworthiness of information provided and impacts educational practices and student learning. It discusses reform based on assessment and accountability,…

The Media Ethics Division section of the proceedings contains the following seven papers: "The Concept of Media Accountability Reconsidered" (Patrick Lee Plaisance); "Of Joint Ventures, Sock Puppets and New Media Synergy: Codes of Ethics and the Emergence of Institutional Conflicts of Interest" (Charles N. Davis and Stephanie…

This paper presents the case study of an attempt to bridge the gap between teacher and administrator preparation programs at Auburn University, Alabama, while engaging students in authentic learning situations at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County serves 600 youth during the school year and…

This study compared high and low performing schools in a state secondary physical education high stakes assessment and accountability program. The South Carolina Physical Education Assessment Program (SCPEAP) required teachers to assess samples of students on competency across four state mandated performance indicators. This study examined the…

This policy brief summarizes a longer report about state assessment and accountability systems in all 50 states. It examines the extent to which state policies meet the intent of federal policy, particularly Title I programs. It asks, "How are states measuring student performance and reporting it to the general public?" and "How are states holding…

This report from the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) (Maryland) provides information on the following topics: accessibility and affordability, student success, diversity, support of regional economic and workforce development, effective use of public funding, and community outreach. The report notes that CCBC experienced a 6% increase…

This book about reading tracks and questions the 30-year campaign that has focused on testing, accountability, and federalization of education to demonstrate that it is not just whole language advocates who are having problems with the National Reading Panel report and the new education laws. The book gathers together a comprehensive collection of…

This issue of "Network News" takes a look at emerging P-16/K-16 partnerships and data systems. The first article, "P-16 Data and Accountability Systems," by Hans L'Orange and Rick Voorhees (an adaptation of a policy brief) looks at data being used for accountability within P-16 systems and provides some general characteristics…

This report is the second annual accountability report of Connecticut's state system of higher education. With the passage of Public Act 01-173, each constituent unit of higher education is to submit an accountability report to the Commissioner of Higher Education annually by January 1. The Commissioner is charged with assembling a consolidated…

This collection of papers suggests that the laissez-faire policies of charter school reform often exacerbate existing inequalities in U.S. schools. It is based on a study of 10 urban, suburban, and rural school districts and 17 diverse charter schools in California, focusing on accountability and equity to explore how charter school policies…

A series of four policy seminars was held in 1999 to discuss suggestions to ensure that Latino children reap the benefits of standards-based accountability and to illuminate related issues for the educational system. This report summarizes those seminars. The first was "Educational Standards, Assessment and Accountability: A New Civil Rights…