The chronic academic underperformance and student failure of most American urban high schools are actually created by the antiquated way that schools evaluate student academic performance and award (or deny) course credits. When the school leaders in a small inner-city high school in Chicago began to question the "received wisdom" of…

For more than 50 years, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) has been instrumental in developing an analytical model for understanding the relationships between educational policy (the intended curriculum), classroom and instructional practices (the implemented curriculum), and educational learning…

Common practices regarding competency testing for handicapped students have ranged from inclusion and exclusion to selective inclusion based on handicapping condition. Factors involved in deciding about minimum competency testing include conceptualizing the categories of handicaps into two groups: students who require a modified learning…

Educators were asked to read a description of a minimum proficiency test required for high school graduation and select a cutoff score for it. The 24 descriptions used were formed as all possible combinations of a test content, a level of student performance, a penalty for failing the test, and a community response to the test. Of the 223…

The report summarizes information from a survey involving 54 state and territory directors of special education who responded to six questions regarding the following: mandated competency testing programs, individuals required to take the test, special procedures used in administering the test, awarding regular or special diplomas to handicapped…

Although prepared particularly for students who plan to transfer to Southern Illinois University, these curriculum guides may serve as a model for other 2-year colleges preparing similar material. The document includes evaluation procedures. Evaluation of the student's satisfaction of academic credit and major requirements is part of his…

Reports on a study of 702 Illinois secondary schools' policies and on how well those policies are described in student handbooks. The findings show that local schools have good intentions about informing students and parents, but they also suggest that many policies may be inadequately reported. Includes tables and references. (MD)

Describes a special student whose determination to succeed despite disabilities was an important lesson for an entire school. (MD)

The Debra P. versus Turlington case marked the first major inquiry into content validity of a student competency testing program. The Florida federal district court determined material assessed on the test had been taught in Florida's classrooms. Schools may deny regular diplomas to students who fail the test. (DWH)

Piedmont High School is a small high school in rural Alabama, which serves a primarily white population and has a high dropout rate. PLATO computerized instruction has been used by almost 200 skill-deficient students, and 4 teachers have used it. After using PLATO, Piedmonts struggling students are much more likely to pass the Alabama High School…

The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) a nonprofit, voluntary association of accredited distance study institutions, was founded in 1926 to promote sound educational standards and ethical business practices within the distance study field. The independent DETC Accrediting Commission is listed by the United States Department of…

Service-learning--community service tied to academic learning--has become a common instructional strategy in schools across the country. Senior and culminating projects-- multidimensional projects through which graduating high school seniors demonstrate their accumulated knowledge and skills--are becoming increasingly common as well. This paper…

Author develops a plan to meet some of the major objectives to general education programs and preserve the reasonable awareness of the world in general that has been its goal. (Author/MB)

Relates that all students in all 24 academic disciplines in Bethany College in West Virginia are required to complete one or more internships before graduation and discusses the internship requirements of communications majors. (HOD)

Argues that an understanding of American ideals and democratic values should be part of high school minimum graduation competencies. (Author/SJL)