Objectives and issues underlying the international comparison of higher education programs, for the purpose of improving educational mobility among countries, are examined. Several recent studies suggesting methods for qualitative measurement and comparison are discussed, and promising directions are noted. (MSE)

Study examined teacher educators' views of the ideal and real practicability of the new NCATE standards as guidelines for excellence in teacher preparation. Surveys of 397 teacher educators indicated they recognized the quality that NCATE standards would offer their programs and realized many of their programs did not meet NCATE standards. (SM)

Describes contributions made by the National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), noting changes in accreditation standards for teacher preparation programs. The article describes a study of the first 20 schools seeking accreditation under the new NCATE process. Results indicated national accreditation had a significant…

Project 2061's first product, Science for All Americans, recommends the science, mathematics, and technology skills and knowledge that students should retain after high school graduation. Soon to appear are benchmarks for science literacy, and blocks, models, and blueprints for curriculum design. The project's basic premises: the ends come first,…

Describes a study of faculty opinions concerning academic standards in the community college classroom, comparing faculty responses based on personal characteristics, academic senate experience, and employment factors. Although faculty generally agreed on the importance of academic standards, there were differences based on senate membership,…

Students receiving Title IV (Higher Education Amendments of 1976) federal financial aid are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress. This article discusses a University of Arkansas at Fayetteville procedure permitting students to appeal denial of aid. Some means of evaluating extenuating circumstances and making appropriate exceptions…

Math teachers who spend most of their time lecturing at a chalkboard or assigning textbook problems are not reaching many students. To achieve math literacy goals, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics encourages teachers to help students learn to value mathematics, gain confidence in their math abilities, and become good mathematical…

Examines two aspects of faculty tenure decisions with ethical implications: criteria used in deciding to retain or dismiss a tenure candidate, and what is possible to judge with reasonable accuracy when evaluating such a candidate. Recommends that narrow, arbitrary evaluation criteria be avoided, including those promoted as "high academic…

Discusses "grade inflation," and the pressure on instructors to "play grade roll politics to save their own professional hides." Argues that the grade deflation movement works at cross purposes with its goal of elevating academic standards, and that it is at odds with composition theory and its process pedagogy. Suggests…

An obsolete, unworkable approach to achieving high standards is top-down dictation of goals and minimal staff compliance. A constructivist change strategy is based on collaboration. It is an action research and development process enabling everyone to understand the problem, reach agreement on goals, and share responsibility for implementing…

Summarizes the Australian Language Levels (ALL) guidelines, originally defined in 1988, from the perspective of a professional who helped develop them and has examined their application over a period of years. Highlights aims in writing the guidelines, key concepts, goals and outcomes, and student evaluation and teacher training, and considers…

Results of a Council for Basic Education poll of 1,000 voters argue for redefining local control of public education and for raising standards in every part of the country. School boards can ensure easy public access to national standards, demand that local standards be written in plain English, and lobby state officials to clarify statewide…

For formative assessment to raise academic standards in Scotland, three advances are required: investment in research and development to exploit new possibilities for developing pupils' learning potential; development work with teachers to change understandings and roles; and public and political action to establish system contexts and…

Public schools' lack of common curricular and teaching goals provided the rationale for the standards movement. However, too many state standards documents provide insufficient clarity for teachers and students. Educators must focus on standards already assessed, add judiciously to the current list of standards, and avoid topic overload. (MLH)

A group of selective liberal arts colleges will bar many of their athletic teams from postseason championships as of academic year 2001-02, following an eight-year experiment to see if postseason competition would fit into the colleges' missions. Factors in the decision include students missing examinations and increased tension with faculty over…