Describes the origins, grievances, and strategies of the educational excellence movement that Ron Edmonds helped to catalyze. Sees the movement as decentralized, led by lay people and concerned with higher standards for all. Argues that the movement is fueled by public discontent of the past two decades. (RDN)

The crisis in American education as revealed in the decay in the college course of study and in the role of college faculties in creating and nurturing that decay is discussed. The text of the report of the AAC Project on Redefining the Meaning and Purpose of Baccalaureate Degrees is presented. (MLW)

The Indian University Grants Commission, charged with regulating academic standards and disbursing government funds, has not exercised its authority, with serious consequences. Rectifying the situation will be difficult. (MSE)

Universities are increasingly expected to contribute to their regions' economic development by attracting new industry, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, and helping reverse rural decline. Countries are trying to exploit these effects. However, the institutions must maintain a balance between traditional activities and regionally relevant…

Focuses on the direct and indirect ways in which the elitist tradition in the English education system has discriminated against students from working class backgrounds. Concludes that mass higher education cannot be achieved through elitist methods. (Author/DB)

The role of government in financing education is critical to achieving equal opportunity in a just society, but current federal policies that promote student access may actually be discouraging educational excellence by denying adequate funding to the institutions themselves. (Editor/LBH)

A newly-released analysis based on a poll of 453 deans and professors calls into question several previous studies. It continues the ongoing debate over how academic and intellectual performance ought to be measured. (Editor/LBH)

California's students are failing to make the grade in mathematics. A recent study released by the RAND Corporation found that California's eighth grade students ranked 43rd on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics tests. A study conducted by the California State University system found that only 55% of high school…

In response to a need for curricular support, the Idaho State Department of Education gathered teams of exemplary educators from throughout the state to write courses of study related to the original five subject areas within Idaho's Achievement Standards. In turn, all of the state's school districts received hard copies as well as online…

The Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) is the state's measure of student progress in achieving the challenging academic expectations, known as "Learning Results," adopted by the Maine Legislature in 1997. This report of student performance in writing, reading, mathematics, and science and technology provides a status report of student…

The school choice provision of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) of 2001 applies to schools that receive Title I funds and that have not met state performance goals for 2 consecutive years, including goals set before the enactment of NCLBA. Students in such schools must be offered the choice to transfer to another school in the district. The…

Two decades after the United States was diagnosed as "a nation at risk," academic standards for our primary and secondary schools are more important than ever?and their quality matters enormously. In 1983, as nearly every American knows, the National Commission on Excellence in Education declared that "The educational foundations of our society…

The purpose of the High School Graduation Qualifying Examination (HSGQE) is to determine student competency in the areas of reading, English, and mathematics. The HSGQE provides this information in the form of test scores that reflect the essential skills that students should know as a result of their public school experience. The requirement to…

This brief report summarizes how American education has drifted into the accountability systems now in use, either under individual state laws or as mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. The report describes how slip-sliding into the current accountability requirements has resulted in a system so flawed that it fails in its…

The overall goal of the Parent Leadership Exchange (PLE) is to improve student outcomes by increasing the capacity of family and community members to help children achieve high academic standards. To achieve this goal, PLE established a continuing resource to increase the leadership skills of parent leaders, paid or volunteer, working in…