Educational reform typically includes modifications in testing. The article discusses misconceptions about testing and reform, noting reform involves changing test structure or increasing amounts of testing. To provide accountability within educational reform, curriculum must be unified nationally, statewide, or locally because students cannot be…

The feasibility of using contracts rather than grants to fund higher education institutions in Australia is examined. The theoretical basis, nature of the contractual relationship, and likely effects of such a policy are discussed. Conditions necessary for success in achieving government objectives and maintaining university autonomy are…

Describes how alternative assessment differs from more traditional forms and outlines the forces causing the recent fascination with alternative assessment (demands for accountability, negative consequences of high-stakes testing, and increasing criticisms of standardized tests). Identifies some major issues involving alternative assessment,…

New Standards Project directors believe that U.S. educational system must educate all students to high standards. Type of test administered heavily influences classroom practice. New system, consisting of portfolios; performance-based matrix exam tasks, projects, and exhibitions; and work selected by districts, teachers, and students will extend…

Addresses changing student demographics, increasing public accountability and other issues that will affect the future of higher education. Identifies imperatives for community college leadership to deal with these issues. Considers the practical challenges of staffing to be faced with respect to faculty, administrators, and support staff. (DMM)

Rejecting the voucher concept for promoting unequal education, this article endorses the "public/private partnership" model of reinvented school governance. Under this system, teachers and administrators remain public employees but are managed by a private company. Jay P. Goldman's sidebar criticizes privatization schemes as unworkable…

A study of five decentralized school districts reveals many reasons why recentralization could occur, including lack of accountability provisions, lack of effectiveness, retrenchment, central office reluctance to share power, and union hostility. Unless districts approach decentralization thoughtfully and with commitment, they may abandon the…

The use of performance assessments in accountability programs is discussed. Performance assessments have the potential to measure important objectives not easily measured by multiple-choice tests. Nevertheless, they are not suitable for every purpose, and their use should not be oversold. Many psychometric issues remain to be resolved. (SLD)

A statistical technique is presented for developing performance standards based on benchmark groups. The benchmark groups are selected using a multivariate technique that relies on a squared Euclidean distance method. For each observation unit (a school district in the example), a unique comparison group is selected. (SLD)

External assessments for accountability may be taking precedence over other educational assessment purposes and are beginning to direct teaching and learning in schools. Four common concerns include teaching to the tests, narrowing instructional focus and allowing tests to determine curricula, deemphasizing higher order thinking skills, and…

The State University of New York's chancellor and trustees devised an annual performance report to show constituents that they value accountability. The use of performance indicators would indicates how well the multicampus system meets its goals and provides data to enhance requests for more state funds and less regulation. (Author/MSE)

A strategy that has made total quality management work for many organizations involves the following six steps: vision, audit, plan, train, implement, and monitor. (MLF)

For the past 18 months, a middle school in Bowie, Maryland, has been enthusiastically committed to change. Teachers have become catalysts, realizing they possessed the skills and abilities to remedy schooling problems. They confronted school failure through school-based management, self-actualizing activities, staff development, and professional…

Argues that decreasing participation in accreditation will not necessarily realize financial gains for colleges, since other methods of remaining accountable will take its place. Proposes ways to reduce accreditation's real costs while preserving its traditional benefits of self-examination, external scrutiny, and participatory membership. (MAB)

Sound educational planning is essential in an era faced with declining resources, increasing accountability demands, and reluctance to fund higher taxation requests. Planners are seriously challenged by shift from an industrial to a paperless, technological society. This article compares long-range and strategic planning approaches, describes…