Based on analyses and recommendations reported in School Improvement Planning: What's Missing?, the present report proposes ways to (a) reorganize school improvement guidance and (b) expand standards and accountability to encompass a component to address barriers to learning and teaching. In doing so, the work highlights the need and a focus for…

Much of education policy focuses on improving teacher quality, but most policies lack strong research support. We use student achievement gains to estimate teacher value-added, our measure of teacher quality. The analysis reveals substantial variation in the quality of instruction, most of which occurs within rather than between schools. Although…

This study investigated the relationship between the scales used for the NMSBA assessments and the RIT scales used to report performance on Northwest Evaluation Association tests. The study estimated the changes in reading and mathematics RIT score equivalents for the NMSBA performance levels in those subjects. Test records for more than 17,000…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) holds states, districts, and schools accountable for student achievement. NCLB requires regular assessments to mark progress and highlight weaknesses in core academic subjects. Assessment results must be reported in the aggregate and disaggregated by individual subgroups of students. Research shows that…

This collection of articles includes the following: "Introduction: Volume 13: Meeting the Accountability Challenge" (Maria Cora); "New Accountability Rules Pose Dilemma for Programs" (Steve Reuys); "Layers, Brushes, and Multi-Lane Highways: Examining Accountability in a Non-Traditional Program" (Marie Cora); "The Adventure Continues" (Janet…

Each of the four issues of the newsletter of the Texas Association for the Gifted focuses on a theme: leadership, evaluation and assessment, curriculum issues, and accountability issues. Issues usually contain theme-related major articles, columns by the Association's president and executive director, a column examining related research, answers…

This paper examines ways in which context influences the implementation of high-stakes accountability systems. The trajectory of implementation efforts has followed a familiar course, with the emergence of scattered opposition prompting officials to "refine" testing systems in predictable ways. These efforts placate critics while softening the…

This document, produced by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), is a handbook for administrators of community, junior, and specialized two-year colleges. This handbook is for the specific use of institutions under review, members of evaluation teams, and others who are concerned with good practice in associate…

This document is an accreditation guide for community and junior colleges from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), which is part of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The purpose of the guide is to communicate the general background and content of the accreditation standards. The guide is divided…

This document presents findings of Project SEARCH, a qualitative research study of how charter schools interpret laws and regulations governing the education of children with disabilities, especially the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The project involved a preliminary 15-state policy analysis followed by in-depth case…

This document, prepared by the Texas State Auditor's Office, offers detailed guidelines for conducting a financial audit of community colleges in Texas. Its purpose is to assist governing boards and college management in ensuring that their colleges are receiving high-quality opinion audits on annual financial statements. The guide includes the…

The North Carolina State Board of Education developed the ABCs of Public Education in response to the School-Based Management and Accountability Program enacted in 1996. The ABCs focuses on accountability with an emphasis on high educational standards, teaching the basics, and maximum local control. This document reports the results of the…

Contributors to this book were asked to organize their chapters around the following question: "What do you think it will take to redesign entire school systems for success in the 21st century?" The book is therefore about redesigning entire school districts. The subtheme that emerged in the chapters was redesigning school districts as organic…

This document deals with the topic of the charter-school movement. Anne Turnbaugh Lockwood's article focuses on selected, key aspects of papers commissioned by the Comprehensive Center-Region VI from experts in the charter-school movement. It discusses the potential for enhanced teaching and learning in charter schools, management issues that can…

In examining the topic of evaluation, it is necessary to look at the role of evaluation in supervision and professional development. For any program to be effective, research states that accountability must be the focus of those responsible for the program. Evaluation of program, results, and personnel is part of providing for accountability. The…