This report evaluates the effectiveness of a reading program known as "The Reading Renaissance/Accelerated Reader Program" as implemented at Gardner Middle School in San Manuel, Arizona, during the period of April 1997 to April 1998. Before the program was implemented, students were achieving at a low level in reading. Students in the…

This report examines costs of higher education in New Jersey, comparing the state's system of higher education and its individual sectors with national counterparts. The comparison takes into account such factors as differences in the cost of living and the size and relevant structural characteristics of a state's higher education system. In…

With the re-adoption of the Texas Education Code (TEC) in 1995, the Texas commissioner of education was required to develop and propose an assessment system for students with disabilities and for students of limited English proficiency. The evolution of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) program and the development of the…

Focusing on student achievement, this 1997 evaluation study examines Colorado charter schools' record in meeting goals of the state's Charter Schools Act. The report includes only the 24 charter schools operating for at least 2 years at the end of 1996-97. Tension between two central values, autonomy and accountability, complicate state-level…

This report suggests that charter schools need to consider six critical questions as they develop a student accountability plan for their school. These questions are: (1) "What is our school's mission?"; (2) "What do we want our students to know and be able to do?"; (3) "How will we know whether our students are achieving or attaining the goals…

A conference in Washington, D.C., brought together leaders from six communities to share their strategies to mobilize residents to fight substance abuse problems. The actions taken by community groups and leaders in the following cities are described: Portland (Oregon); Hampton (Virginia); Baltimore (Maryland); New Haven (Connecticut); Newark (New…

J. Vella, P. Berardinelli, and J. Burrow (1998) described the "accountability process" of program evaluation. This process was implemented to evaluate a Parents as Teachers program after a year of operation. Evaluation included determining goals, identifying objectives, and determining the focus. Critical elements were identified for…

This document is a collection of Education Commission of the States notes that address a wide array of education issues. The notes provide brief overviews of state legislation passed or pending on specific education issues. It analyzes such matters as performance-based accountability systems; state-level policies regarding accreditation in public…

This booklet, intended for trustees of institutions of higher education, offers some instruction on the principles of risk management. Introductory information provides a definition of risk management, which is seen as a planning and strategic function, not solely as a financial or safety assessment. Individual sections then address the following…

This brief report highlights the issues, evidence, and first steps toward including students with disabilities in educational data systems. The report notes that if students with disabilities are excluded from educational data collection systems, policy makers do not have an adequate set of information from which to make policy decisions. The…

This congressional report presents amendments to the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 and recommends the amended bill's passage. The amended bill extends the authorizations for Gallaudet University and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). The bill repeals parts B and C of Title I, consolidating the authorities for the elementary…

Jefferson State Community College (JSCC), in response to external requests for accountability, developed an institutional effectiveness plan which, while demonstrating accountability, was primarily designed to improve the programs and services of the college. JSCC's plan was comprised of three components: purposes, plans, and results. As the…

Findings of a study that examined the relationship between Ohio school district income levels and student testing performance are presented in this paper. The first statistical analysis categorized districts by residents' average income, and the second analysis classified them according to the percentage of families receiving Aid to Dependent…

The ongoing planning of school improvement in the Chicago Public Schools is examined in this paper. The Chicago School Reform Act required that principals consult with their local school councils (LSCs), staff, parents, and community members to develop a three-year school improvement plan (SIP). Data were derived from two studies: the first…

Although whether or not to make continuing education mandatory is a controversial issue, most people recognize the need for professionals to continue learning throughout their careers. They disagree, however, as to the best ways to motivate professionals to learn how best to provide practice-oriented education. Increases in knowledge,…