Discusses the changing role of government as Australian universities face restructuring including: (1) shaping the system for national policy purposes; (2) funding research and teaching; (3) setting industrial relations and related policy parameters; and (4) quality assurance and accountability. Urges universities to tackle their problems without…

State and federal policymakers have recently upgraded accountability rules, thrusting school leaders into uncharted, uncomfortable territory. In this scenario, principals must adopt flexible, facilitative leadership styles, model core school values, develop organizational capacity, accept heightened public scrutiny, and represent the school's…

Describes a large-scale Canadian assessment program which attempted to embed an improvement orientation into assessment by emphasizing how large-scale assessment contributes to learning. The paper investigates the impact of the assessment on how schools addressed accountability and improvement after the program had been in place for 2 years,…

A research project examined what form of organizational structures have been adopted within British further-education colleges 5 years after their incorporation and removal from local-education authority control. Colleges are representing their structures as market models (alongside a clan culture), rather than Weberian bureaucracies. (Contains 29…

Two award-winning Canadian educational researchers describe how the goals of standards-based reform can be met without getting bogged down in overstandardization, under-resourcing, deprofessionalization, and curricular narrowness. The sense of urgency driving educational change needs to be accompanied by a sense of agency and energy in teachers so…

Longitudinal study of how school districts allocated resources, focusing on expenditures and staffing, during a 6-year period in the 1990s, a period that saw the implementation of state standards and accountability initiatives. Finds, for example, that school districts did not appear to spend more on instruction, but did hire more instructional…

Discussion of the future of higher education focuses on the issues of quality and assessment, particularly for online institutions like the University of Phoenix. Topics include money spent per student on assessment; retention and degree completion rates; and regional accrediting associations. (LRW)

Discusses some problems, pitfalls, and paradoxes that challenge measurement theory and practice, especially for K-12 achievement testing. Considers a number of technical issues, especially some related to reliability. Also discusses a number of practical or political issues related to validation and accountability. (SLD)

Recounts a personal journey--an effort to achieve balance and congruence in a master's level language arts course. Wrestles with theoretical and practical issues as the author gradually turned over much control of the curriculum to his graduate students. Delves into some thorny issues: student assessment, maintaining rigor and accountability, and…

Describes an information literacy skills assessment project by California State University as part of an accountability process. Highlights include information competence; a qualitative study using information scenarios; capturing what students do when they search for information; and ethnographic data. (LRW)

Argues that vouchers do not improve student achievement, hurt public schools, exclude many students, go to students who do not need them, and decrease accountability. Reform efforts should be directed to turning around failing public schools. (Contains 29 references.) (PKP)

Describes five major developments that are changing the way schools are funded: Linking finance to achievement; changing demographics, such as fewer households with school-age children; teacher shortages, especially for certain fields and certain locations; funding technology; and school choice. (PKP)

Secretary of Education from 1988-90 under the Reagan and Bush Administrations describes efforts to establish national education performance goals and improve the academic performance of Hispanic Americans. Also discusses accountability, narrowing the achievement gap, balancing academic achievement with character education, and teacher education.…

Describes certain historical and cultural issues associated with the low academic achievement of Alaska Native students in Alaska public schools. Argues that high-stakes testing alone will not improve the academic performance of Alaska Native students; in fact, it may exacerbate the problem. Recommends the adoption of a new generation of…

Discussion of research and development (R&D) in education focuses on educational computing R&D, which translates theory and research into practice and the creative design and development of new products. Suggests that as educational technology, accountability, and systemic reform change educational practice, the need for effective R&D…