Georgia's High Schools That Work program aims to improve career-bound students' reading, mathematics, science, technical, and problem-solving capabilities by integrating college preparatory program content with vocational studies and by stressing effort over ability. Other key elements include raising expectations, requiring a career major, and…

If used effectively, portfolios can be both an assessment tool and an integral part of instruction, while overcoming some attendant standardized-testing problems. New reading, writing, and mathematics assessment standards focus on student learning, reflection and critical inquiry, and integration of literacy skills with students' home, school, and…

Demoralized by disappearing dollars and omission of the arts from national education goals, the arts education community has formed a consortium of professional organizations to write standards and address related issues, such as balance among the arts and multicultural and technological concerns. To anchor the arts firmly in the curriculum, they…

Recent study found that high-achieving African Americans ran the risk of both physical and verbal abuse from peers. With help from staff, principals can remove or weaken excellence-alienation link by raising community awareness, providing opportunities for new knowledge and skills, and offering support and resources for change. Principals must…

Reviews the National Junior College Athletic Association's responses to criticisms and recommendations by the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges. Highlights responses related to athletes' eligibility requirements, grade point averages, season length, squad size, heightened institutional responsibility for athletes' academic…

A survey of the mathematics teachers of 1,484 students with deafness assessed the degree to which the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards were being implemented through deaf education programs. Results indicate that mathematics curricula in classrooms for students with deafness are not fully meeting the NCTM standards.…

Discusses appropriate goals for mathematics and science educators to focus on in order to boost academic achievement in the United States. Conclusions are based on data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). (DDR)

Although the Americans with Disabilities Act forbids discrimination on the basis of learning disability, institutions of higher learning must establish academic achievement standards. A recent case ("Guckenberger v. Boston University") involving course substitutions for a foreign-language requirement illustrates this point. Boston…

One reason for U.S. students' poor rankings on national and international tests is the lack of uniform, uniformly high standards for all students. State standards are not useful if they are vague, uninterpretable, and unmeasurable, which occurs in many states. Legislators and citizens must insist that education departments, teacher organizations,…

Compared Japanese and U.S. geometry curricula using the van Hiele model, U.S. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards, and Japanese Course of Study by Mombusho, examining how the students regarded van Hiele levels and determining differences in geometry instruction. Japanese curricula and students were ahead of U.S. curricula and…

The Principal Manager for Equal Opportunities and Access of the British Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) outlines recent and future developments initiated by the QCA concerning inclusion of students with special educational needs. Discussion focuses on general principles of the QCA, the National Curriculum, "target setting"…

Supports the shift from educating the masses as music consumers to educating a population of competent music makers through the integration of the standards into the music curriculum. Believes that, by transforming the teacher-education programs and creating advocacy agendas, the barriers to educational reform will be overcome. (CMK)

A seventh-grader explains why the Virginia Standards of Learning tests unfairly pressure her and her teachers. She wants her free reading time restored and wishes politicians would worry more about students understanding--not just memorizing--facts. She praises teachers who go beyond the SOL. (MLH)

Explores areas of agreement and disagreement in five articles on mathematics and science standards, highlighting active learning, teaching for understanding, and constructivism. The article notes that there is more than one right answer, but disagreement persists over applications, amateur problem solving, and the risk of junk math and science.…

Outlines what is known about the role of professional development in systemic reform and discusses what is still not understood about this relationship. Argues that the distance between professional development and students is great. Contains 31 references. (DDR)