Over the past four years, Pakistan's higher-education budget has increased more than sevenfold, to about $449-million. While that amounts to only 0.5 percent of Pakistan's gross domestic product, it is a big improvement from the days of barely enough to pay "measly salaries and basic bills." But for students, along with many of…

Sometimes assessments that work in theory fall apart in reality. This article discusses the unique learning-measurement system in Nebraska. Instead of relying on statewide standardized tests to comply with the accountability requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act--as is the case in the other 49 states--districts in Nebraska use their…

This study analyzed documentation from 50 state departments of education concerning high school graduation requirements for students in general and for students with disabilities. Preliminary information reviews research on graduation requirements, research on minimum competence tests, and legal issues and implications. Study findings are then…

Schools often face a conflict between placing an emphasis on the pursuit of academic excellence (academic press) and creating a positive school community. This paper examines the separate and joint achievement effects of both academic press and communality across a sample of American public and private high schools. The hypothesis holds that when…

The current controversy about using results as a way of assessing the success of efforts to improve the lives of children and families, and of shifting to a results-based accountability system, has given rise to hope, fear, and confusion. This paper sets out some of the issues in the shift to results-based accountability and identifies a startup…

Nested in a complex environment of expectations, regulations, professional standards, and historical traditions, schools are the object of many influences. The main question of this paper is: To what extent and under what conditions do external agents help schools develop intellectual quality and strong professional communities? The paper examines…

Among the most notable aspects of the educational reform movement are the efforts by government, corporate, and philanthropic leaders to establish academic standards. This paper addresses two questions: (1) Why is it important for the Catholic high schools of America to set standards and improve assessments? and (2) What types of standards and…

The California Assessment of Academic Achievement Act of 1995 mandates the development and adoption of statewide academically rigorous content and performance standards in core curriculum areas. This brochure summarizes the findings of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) standards task force. The brochure is organized around…

Outcomes-based education (OBE) is a controversial model of educational restructuring that defines learning as what students can demonstrate that they know. This document reviews four journal articles and one bulletin that reflect a range of perspectives on OBE's potential promise and problems. In "Organizing for Results: The Basis of…

The Tertiary Lead Group in New Zealand created a national qualifications framework to incorporate all types of degrees given by colleges and universities. This report describes the process undertaken, the principles to be considered and the issues to be addressed, the benefits of such a national system, the features and specifications proposed,…

This book describes a strategy for school reform, "planning backwards from exhibitions," which is a collective invention of the Coalition of Essential Schools. The strategy is based on the principle that graduation from high school should be based on genuine achievement. The first article, by Joseph P. McDonald, explains that the purpose of…

Position papers and reports from workshop groups in this proceedings are based on the theme of articulation goals for technical communication programs. Papers in the proceedings included two position papers prepared to initiate discussion: "Education or Training? Issues for Certificate Programs in Technical Communication" (Henrietta…

The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) was developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in the 1960s and 1970s to be the recognized international standard for reporting and interpreting education program data. Creating a U.S. crosswalk to this system has been a goal of research…

The Colorado Model Content Standards for Science specify what all students should know and be able to do in science as a result of their school studies. These standards reflect high expectations and outline the essential level of science knowledge and skills needed by all citizens to participate productively in an increasingly technological…

The guide explains the roles of standards-based assessment in various contexts involving students who are learning English as a second language (ESL). It is designed to accompany the "ESL Standards for Pre-K-12 Students," a document that sets out the language competencies needed by ESL students to become fully proficient in English, have…