This report focuses on how the Chicago Public School District, schools, and teachers implemented key components of the district's accountability agenda and its effects on teaching. Key findings are as follows: (1) formal sanctions influence school and teacher resource allocation; (2) mismatches between formal sanctions and support result in…

California's public school system lacks the capacity to deliver on today's higher standards and expectations for all its students. Educators and policymakers believe that greater capacity will require additional funding. The more complex question, however, is, "How much funding would be adequate for California public schools?" This…

School spending decisions are made locally in California, mostly by the leaders in each school district. In making these decisions, local districts have to comply with the provisions of local collective bargaining contracts with employee unions and with state and federal regulations regarding how some money must be spent. An analysis of school…

This standard course of study for North Carolina public schools establishes competency goals and objectives directing the teaching and learning of foreign languages in North Carolina. It is a flexible guide to instruction, emphasizing what students should know and be able to do as they progress through various levels of proficiency and ultimately…

Focuses on modifying personalized systems of instruction (PSI) by using competency unit testing instead of mastery testing. The algebra service courses at the University of Arizona are described. Includes data on student achievement. (MNS)

Previews the findings of "A Study of High Schools," cosponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Commission on Educational Issues. Offers overall impressions of field visits to high schools and suggests eight principles by which high schools should be restructured. (JW)

The behavioral event interview, it is suggested, provides a rich source of information on a prospective student's college potential (information different from standardized aptitude and achievement testing). Its use with a set of criteria for admission provides useful indices to gauge the talents within diversely prepared students. (MLW)

Describes a behavioral approach to interpersonal communication instruction that helps students develop competencies relevant to social interaction through analysis, practice, implementation, and evaluation. (PD)

Describes steps taken at the University of Pennsylvania to change foreign language requirement, including studies of student achievement by administering CEEB Language Achievement Tests and FSI Oral Proficiency Interview and the development of performance standards by faculty in order to make requirements proficiency-based. (BK)

Introduces Project EQuality, initiated by the College Board to establish levels of competency and patterns of preparation to increase students' chances of moving smoothly from high school to college academic work. Urges high schools and colleges to work cooperatively to improve academic preparation for and access to postsecondary education. (DMM)

Describes Florida's Approach to Competency-Based Individualized Teaching (FACIT), which is a learning system designed to provide vocational educators with the knowledge and the skills to implement and manage an individualized, competency-based instructional delivery system. (SK)

An annotated bibliography concerning proficiency development in schools identifies sources which focus on the identification and development of basic skills. Topics explored include: (1) issues and definition in proficiency development; (2) assessing the state of proficiency development; and (3) instructional techniques and programs. (JN)

The authors suggest a structure for introducing entrepreneurship in junior high career education activities and extending these concepts in secondary vocational programs. Also presents results of field testing a series of 36 entrepreneurship training competencies for secondary vocational students. (CT)

Social work educators surveyed reported differential success in implementing key instructional development elements--success in specifying objectives and developing related assessment procedures, obstacles in building bridges to competence through instructional design. Aids in matching learners to learning environments are outlined. (MSE)

Twenty-six Saudi Arabian students underwent a two year program at San Jose State University to learn how to individualize vocational training programs in their country. Each student completed a portfolio which contained a record of his competencies and individualized instructional packages for his future use. (MER)