Performance-driven high schools have organizational, management, and governance structures that communicate high expectations. Such schools create a results-oriented culture, strongly support staff development, build community services and "outside" supports for students, help parents support their children's academic progress, and…

Research findings using data from the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) database has shown that race, socioeconomic level, class size, and classroom heterogeneity are poor predictors of student academic growth. TVAAS findings indicate that teacher effectiveness is the main determinant of student academic progress. (SLD)

A study of 17 charter schools in 10 California districts concludes that these schools have not lived up to the assumptions propelling them. Charters fell short on accountability, administrative autonomy, funding efficiency, choice and admissions, infusion of competition, and instructional innovation. Public school educators claim charters are…

Describes the use of cost effectiveness analysis of educational productivity in Phase I and II of the Regents Study of Organizational Change. Twenty school districts were selected for the study based on declining enrollment, high noninstructional expenses, high state aid, and high local tax burdens. (MMU)

Arizona's "exemplary" charter-school legislation illustrates how three underlying ideologies (antibureaucracy, market-based education, and teacher professionalism) play out in practical terms. Although Arizona charter schools are achieving stability via independent financial status and real-time funding, many have monitoring…

Presents a generic reference model for online distance learning and discusses security issues for each stage (enrollment, study, completion, termination, suspension). Discusses a security framework (authentication and accountability, access control, intrusion detection, network communications, nonrepudiation, learning resources provider…

Activities of Project OATS (Outcomes of Assistive Technology in the Schools) are described, including identification and piloting of existing assessment instruments for use as an outcome measure, examining the validity of the School Function Assessment, and field testing the School Function Assessment-Assistive Technology Version, an adaptation of…

The Northwest Evaluation Association helped an Indiana school district develop a computerized adaptive testing system that was aligned with its curriculum and geared toward measuring individual student growth. Now the district can obtain such information from semester to semester and year to year, get immediate results, and test students on…

In Washington state, two initiatives and several bills allowing charter schools have failed since 1995, although support has been growing. Supporters feel that charter schools will keep parents connected to public education and prevent talented teachers from leaving the field. Opponents claim that charter schools divert resources away from public…

Discusses the regional accrediting commissions that provide quality assurance for the majority of degree-granting institutions in the United States. Considers the balance between accountability and innovation regarding new forms of educational delivery and describes draft guidelines being developed for evaluating electronic programs. (LRW)

Describes the development of courses at the University of Central Florida that are a mix of traditional classroom instruction and online courses. Discusses course assessment methods to help meet student needs; faculty incentives to participate in the assessment process; administrative support; and accountability. (LRW)

School board members have a desire to be on top of the issues, except in communicating with the community. Board members can discuss with the community school policies that define values. (MLF)

Discussion of the use of videodiscs to improve postsecondary teaching focuses on a project at the University of Alberta (Canada) that considered ethical standards in visual anthropology. Topics include identifying teaching examples, accountability, collaboration, integrity, intentionality, authenticity, and dignity and privacy. (LRW)

Accreditation in British Columbia's schools has evolved into a complex process. Using an expanded model of accountability, this article analyzes the British Columbia accreditation process, focusing primarily on the difficulty of serving both system and local audiences and the nature of the accreditation manual. (SLD)

Discusses quality assurance and evaluation at institutions of higher education in Africa. Notes driving forces behind this trend, including declining financial resources; accountability to stakeholders; and massification, internationalization, and globalization of education. Notes establishment by many institutions of internal and external quality…