Controversies concerning the role of college accrediting agencies are identified, including such issues as student enrollment diversity, student loan defaults, and accountability. Recent actions of the Education Department, Congress, and specialized accrediting agencies are noted, as is controversy concerning linking accreditation by a regional…

Recommendations of the report on intercollegiate athletics are focused on increased presidential control directed toward academic integrity, financial integrity, and accountability through certification. Specifically addressed are chairs of governing boards, college and university presidents, student-athletes, athletics directors, alumni, faculty,…

Includes "School Choice: An Overview"; "Public School Choice: An Overview"; "Would Choice + Competition Yield Quality Education?" (Elmore); "National Testing: An Overview"; "Measuring Schools Is Not the Same as Improving Them" (Darling-Hammond); "Testing, Testing, One, Two, Three..."…

Implications of using alternative assessments for accountability in a high-stakes testing environment (using tests to make impact decisions for students, schools, or teachers) are examined. The psychometric properties of standardized alternative assessments are discussed, and the consequences of their use are considered. (SLD)

Federal regulations concerning recovery of indirect costs of university research projects are changing. Institutions should explore possible alternatives for managing reporting of indirect costs for individual projects. One system, reporting indirect cost categories in the same format as direct costs, may give insight into expenditures and help…

Discusses a study of training and development in noneducational, profit companies that found total quality management the main training topic. Participant evaluations measured training effectiveness. Employees participated in training for personal satisfaction and increased capacity. Private sector trainers expressed concern about the lack of…

The positive and negative elements of six educational reforms are discussed: search for excellence; cooperative learning; middle schools; master teacher certification; site-based management; and accountability. Gifted educators are urged to promote these reform movements for the maximum benefit of all. (Author/JDD)

Teacher assessment programs of four Florida school systems that have attempted to link teacher assessment, development, and school improvement are described and their efforts evaluated. Common components are identified, with collaboration, professional development, and accountability being among the most important. Each system addressed school…

Educational Alternatives, Inc. (EAI), and others have formed a consortium, "The Alliance for Schools That Work," that seeks to manage the curriculum, maintenance and operation, and financial operations of individual schools or entire school districts. EAI's president describes how the alliance would handle the business affairs of a…

The University of Texas at El Paso instituted a strategic planning framework with the intent of expanding and maintaining long-term participation by faculty, staff, and other constituents. The four-phase process included generating more open dialog about the future; responding to a powerful external incentive for self-assessment; preparing for…

Performance assessment can help educators develop ways to reveal individual students' distinctive features and secure information about learning. These opportunities will be wasted unless the public's attitudes and expectations toward schooling are changed. Attitudes cannot change without revising policies inhibiting school children's educational…

In analyzing Native researchers' experiences, a world view emerges that is distinct from that of the mainstream culture. Referred to as relational accountability, this Indigenous world view holds individual responsibility for actions to be in relation to all living organisms. The web of relationships between all organisms ties the universe…

Describes the use of a faculty-focused assessment pilot project by six Germanna Community College faculty members, which provides immediate feedback to faculty on what is working in the classroom and what is not. Provides an overview of the project, its results, and recommendations. Includes background on Cross and Angelo's Classroom Assessment…

Contends that accreditation alone is not the solution to problems facing early childhood and school-age education programs. Presents seven recommendations for program accreditation. Suggests that stakeholders should also continue to refine standards and practices, focus on integrating accreditation policies into comprehensive plans, view…

Using one set of standardized tests to determine if a student graduates or is promoted makes students pay for society's failure to provide an equal, quality education; encourages teaching to the test instead of teaching critical thinking skills; and ignores research findings and test publishers' advice that multiple measures are necessary for…