This report from the WisKids Count project, instead of being the usual annual data book about an array of issues affecting children, is a collection of essays that take a critical look at the practice of standardized testing and the status of testing in Wisconsin. In the 2002-2001 school year, more than 250,000 Wisconsin children in public schools…

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is the accrediting agency for the California Community Colleges. This report offers information regarding the role of faculty in the accreditation process. WASC Accreditation teams--made up of administrators, faculty members, and governing board members--evaluate institutions. The process…

These standards offer a vision of excellence for K-12 foreign language education in Nevada. They are designed to provide guidance for school districts as they develop high quality foreign language programs through Nevada schools. The standards are benchmarked for the following grades: kindergarten, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th. For each…

The National Research Council (NRC) initiated the first reform movement in 1994 in order to increase student achievement, provide curriculum reform, and involve teacher enhancement programs. This document reports on a study with qualitative and quantitative components that evaluated the results of the impacts of teacher enhancement and curriculum…

This booklet outlines Mississippi's plan for raising student achievement. It discusses how Mississippi tried to avoid the problems that other states encountered when they tried to raise standards without strengthening core educational components, such as curriculum and teacher support. Mississippi called on hundreds of teachers to rewrite the…

The paper discusses a model of quality management system for higher education. One of the main objectives of this paper is to highlight the challenges facing the school during implementation of the ISO 9001 standard and the benefits of successfully implementing such a quality system can bring to higher education. Based on the experience of a…

Understanding the structure and function of proteins is an important part of the standards-based science curriculum. Proteins serve vital roles within the cell and malfunctions in protein self assembly are implicated in degenerative diseases. Experience indicates that this topic is a difficult one for many students. We have found that the concept…

This updated list of content standards covering economics is suggested for states developing their own economics standards. The list outlines the core requirements for basic literacy in economics for grades K-12. The statements are similar to designated content standards from other core subject areas. Key economic concepts describing their basic…

This resource manual was created by teachers for teachers who wish to engage in an inquiry-based approach to historical knowledge and historical understanding. The teaching examples are offered as sample activities and are not considered to be a complete curriculum. The teaching examples are organized by grade level and era and are supplemented by…

This book describes two high school teachers' efforts to align curriculum, assessment, and performance standards, troubleshooting issues surrounding content standards, instructional objectives, and curricular aims. Eight chapters examine: (1) "What Does a Competent Classroom Look Like?"; (2) "What Drives a Course?" (e.g.,…

It is accepted that a secondary school graduate should be able to communicate, i.e. to be competent in the language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. However, most state departments of elementary and secondary education fail to identify the skill of listening. Although federal recognition of listening as a language skill came in…

A growing number of states are implementing standards-based accountability systems in their efforts to improve student achievement. Policymakers in these states believe that standards-based reforms that include high-stakes testing can be powerful tools to change what is happening in schools and classrooms. This study is part of ongoing research…

The essays in this collection offer a comprehensive analysis of the challenges of communicating effectively about student achievement. Discussions of concepts related to grading and reporting progress are mixed with practical advice. The chapters are: (1) "Grading Practices; An Overview of the Issues" (Beverly P. Farr); (2) "Why Do We Grade--and…

The report provides a historical perspective of the Standards of Academic Progress (SOAP) performance and compares changes in fall term 1994 and fall term 1998 at Miami-Dade Community College (Florida). The Standards of Academic Progress (SOAP) monitor student academic performance in order to identify students in need of academic intervention. Two…

This serial offers a collection of articles on academic standards, while focusing on whether it is possible to ensure both equity and high standards in education. It looks at ways to close the achievement gap between students in high-poverty schools and their middle-class peers, and offers a chart that outlines what various stakeholders can do to…