Several methods by which teachers are able to make a useful assessment of their own instruction and prescribe improvements for their own teaching are described. The literature on these evaluation methods is also reviewed. These methods include: reflective evaluation, an important part of the new approach to teacher self-evaluation; action research…

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) is a state-mandated, criterion-referenced or mastery test that has been administered since the 1990-91 school year. The TAAS measures student mastery of the statewide curriculum in reading and mathematics at grades 3 through 8 and at the exit level, and in writing at grades 4 and 8 and at the exit…

In 1997, Maryland formed the Task Force on Education Funding Equity, Accountability, and Partnerships to ensure that students throughout Maryland have an equal opportunity for academic success. The Task Force's preliminary report features a comprehensive review of education funding and programs in grades K-12. The report presents membership and…

Since 1990, a long-term study has been following the implementation of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) in 21 schools in 4 rural school districts. This publication summarizes study findings through 1995. Findings across KERA strands suggest that reform would have been unlikely without KERA's extra funding, used to increase teacher…

This report addresses trends and issues in assessment in relation to the role of college faculty, including advances in assessment that make it more congenial to faculty, different institutional approaches to assessment, and how assessment can be viewed as a faculty role. The report identifies major shifts in the assessment framework, changes in…

This report presents a sector-wide review of three types of cost-containment initiatives. The first, collaboration, allows for the sharing of resources, facilitates joint purchasing agreements, reduces duplication of services, and expands personal and professional contacts, but requires time to develop institutional relationships. The second,…

This resource guide, second in a series of three volumes, is a compilation of assessment instruments, tools, or checklists. These instruments were submitted by active professionals in the field of assistive technology and demonstrate the range of instrumentation in use today. Each item submitted is reviewed according to a standard format that…

This report describes the progress Ohio made during fiscal year 1992 in achieving the objectives outlined in the State Plan for the Administration of Vocational Education in Ohio and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act. The compiled information is intended for use to determine the need for changes in state plan…

This guide was developed to provide school district, area vocational-technical school, and postsecondary administrators in Pennsylvania with guidance for managing an accountability system for their vocational education programs. Although drafted primarily to assist agencies in meeting the intent of the Carl D. Perkins legislation, the model…

An effective educational reform plan creates a compelling vision, develops a new policy environment conducive to change, and lays out strategies for involving educators, parents, business people, and community members in implementation. Traditional educational policy is biased toward the status quo, favors yearly, incremental policy-making,…

Arguments for replacing standardized multiple choice tests with performance assessment that encourages teachers to devote more attention to higher order skills, and thus results in increased student achievement, are based on three assumptions: (1) the teaching profession, key decision makers, and parents will accept performance assessment measures…

When created and operated appropriately, school-site councils can be a very useful component of school renewal. Councils are difficult to create, since members must shift roles, compromise strongly held beliefs, and invest considerable time, energy, and know-how. Advantages of group decision making are bringing diverse experience and expertise to…

This report examines workforce preparation in the state of Illinois within the following general areas: (1) the current and future workforce preparation needs of business; (2) higher education's role in relation to the roles of secondary education, business, labor, and government in providing workforce preparation programs; and (3) the…

This paper clarifies the problems of meaning and translation into practice of concepts of "quality" in higher education by examining a quality improvement program at Griffith University (Queensland, Australia). The paper notes that Australian government agencies have advanced a quality assurance (QA) approach concerned with the…

This report presents six recommendations determined by the California Postsecondary Education Commission to be of highest priority for legislative initiatives or amendments to existing legislation in the 1990 legislative session. A discussion of each issue precedes the formal recommendation. The recommendations address the following areas: (1)…