A forum on inclusive schools, developed cooperatively by 10 national organizations, focused on the experiences of 12 schools and school districts across the United States and Canada. Twelve features are identified as characterizing inclusive schools: (1) a sense of community; (2) leadership; (3) high standards; (4) collaboration and cooperation;…

A preliminary investigation has been made of some claims regarding alternative assessment. Using the California Learning Assessment System (CLAS)--Middle Grades Mathematics Performance Assessment as a platform, the study examined how alternative assessment operates in actual practice. Early findings are presented in the following areas: (1)…

This report summarizes the 1990-91 State Performance Reports for the Chapter 1 (Education Consolidation and Improvement Act) local education agency (LEA) program and the Chapter 1 State Agency Neglected or Delinquent program. Chapter 1 represents the largest investment in elementary and secondary education of the Federal government. With the…

This report identifies what Iowa teachers say must be done to transform schools comprehensively. Recommendations in the key areas of time, authority and responsibility, evaluation and accountability, and early childhood education, are offered. In regard to these recommendations, three major elements have the greatest leverage for change:…

New Mexico State University-Alamogordo's (NMSU-A) Institutional Assessment and Strategic Planning (IASP) process is designed to identify what the institution is doing, what the community is doing that may affect NMSU-A, how well NMSU-A is achieving its mission and purposes, and what the college should do in the future. The IASP is an integrated…

This report, emanating from New Mexico State University-Alamogordo's (NMSU-A) Institutional Assessment and Strategic Planning (IASP) process, presents information pertinent to NMSU-A's planning process for 1993-1996. Following a brief introduction and the IASP Committee cover memo, the report highlights seven high-priority institutional issues:…

The role of ethics in institutional management and instruction and the need for ethics codes have been identified as major issues currently facing community colleges in the United States. In general, ethics codes represent professional ideals, serving as guides for behavior and establishing principles of performance. A study was recently conducted…

It is time to revise the Chapter 1 program to prepare disadvantaged children to meet the challenges of the National Education Goals. The Chapter 1 program must be aligned with larger reforms to develop higher standards for student performance and greater accountability. The gap in achievement between disadvantaged and other students means that…

In 1986, the Southern Regional Education Board Career Ladder Clearinghouse reported that 29 states were implementing, or had mandates to develop, career ladder or teacher incentive programs based on student performance. The 50-state survey reported on here revisits the issue of teacher and school incentive programs. The report provides a framework…

Faculty members' reactions to constructing and evaluating course portfolios were examined, and how that process might be improved was explored as part of an annual evaluation of teaching. Three college departments (sociology, accounting, and dental hygiene and assisting) volunteered to use portfolio review in the 1991-92 school year. In all, 22…

The National Education Goals Panel (NEGP) tracks and reports annually on 33 indicators linked to the 8 National Education Goals. The NEGP's 1997 report showed positive gains on the greatest number of indicators for North Carolina and Texas. These gains included significant gains on the 1996 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in…

The National Partnership for Excellence in Education and Accountability in Teaching (NPEAT) helps place improvement of teaching at the center of reform efforts, addressing two problems that impede the development of systemic reforms to improve teaching quality: (1) absence of agreement about effective strategies for improving teaching among those…

This report summarizes the present and past status of students with disabilities in educational assessment and accountability systems, and highlights the critical emerging issues to be addressed. Issues include participation in accountability systems, graduation requirements, data management, accommodations, alternate assessments, reporting, and…

This paper examines the trend toward demanding increased accountability and efficiency by institutions of higher education in the United States and Europe and its implications for the relationship between government and the college or university. It notes that such factors as limited state resources, rising educational costs, and the growing…

The 14 papers in this collection examine how a globalizing political economy affects the way universities are governed, discussing practices such as managerialism, accountability, and privatization which represent a shift toward business values and a market agenda. Part 1 gives a theoretical overview of the globalization agenda. Part 2 gives three…