This paper addresses problems in California's public education. The government has responded with various top-down programs. California and other states have crafted state academic-content standard and accountability programs. California has approved core academic-content standards that are rigorous and emphasize real knowledge and skills.…

This essay argues that the key assumptions driving standards-based school reform and accountability testing are inapplicable to urban schools, suggesting that tasks facing urban school leaders differ both in magnitude and kind from those found in other school districts. The current all-purpose reform solutions treat all schools as the same while…

In many states technology standards for students have focused on basic computer skills, but more standards are beginning to focus on identifying technology skills that students need for school and the workplace. In most states in the Southern Region, technology standards for students are based on the National Educational Technology Standards for…

The standards presented in this book, for reading, writing, and mathematics, are those that will be initially assessed by Arizona's Instrument To Measure Standards (AIMS). These standards and those for other content areas will be a road map for education in Arizona. A statewide test is being developed for each of these areas to measure student…

This paper discusses the national movement toward increasing high school graduation requirements and the development of alternatives to the standard high school diploma for students with disabilities. Findings from a review of state policies indicate: (1) 38 states and territories apply some graduation requirements to students with disabilities;…

Competence refers to a state of being well qualified to perform an activity, task, or job function. According to the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (IBSTPI), a competency involves a related set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that enables a person to effectively perform the activities of a given…

In this lesson plan, students are assigned a member of the California Assembly to research and a political faction to represent. Students examine representative bills voted on by the California Assembly to determine if their member's voting record coincides with the views of their political faction. Ultimately, students must decide whether, and…

The Water in Africa Project was realized over a 2-year period by a team of Peace Corps volunteers, World Wise Schools (WWS) classroom teachers, and WWS staff members. As part of an expanded, detailed design, resources were collected from over 90 volunteers serving in African countries, photos and stories were prepared, and standards-based learning…

This lesson plans project provides information and classroom-ready lesson plans about Nigeria. These lesson plans can stand alone or be used in conjunction with one another. They have been correlated to coincide with the standards set forth in Geography for Life. Following background information "Why Study Nigeria?" (A. Shields), lesson…

Under Article I, Section 8, Clause 4, of the United States Constitution, the U.S. Congress is granted the power to "establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization." With passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, Congress exercised this authority, denying the rights of citizenship to all Chinese immigrants. The Chinese Boycott Case…

Civic education is essential to sustaining constitutional democracy. Each new generation presents a new group of people who must acquire the knowledge, learn the skills, and develop the disposition or traits of private and public character that undergird a constitutional democracy. Citizenship training means teaching students to think critically,…

This paper presents a talk by President George W. Bush in which he launches his quality teacher initiative. He explains that the educational reforms will ensure that all students, particularly impoverished students, will have high expectations and receive a high quality education. As the expectations of schools are raised, nearly $3 billion has…

Faculty members at Idaho State University evaluated the use of case analysis as an accountability measure for demonstrating teacher candidates' abilities to meet targeted course, institutional, and state teaching standards for student motivation and classroom management. Thirty-four teacher candidates completed a case analysis assessment.…

Using national sources, the Kentucky Core Content development committee defined the arts as creating, performing, and responding to dance, music, theater; the visual arts; and literature. The committee defined the humanities as the beliefs, thoughts, and traditions of humankind as reflected in history; philosophy; religion; dance; music; theater;…

This framework contains six instructional strands. Each strand has a content standard and cumulative student learning expectations for grades K-4, grades 5-8, and grades 9-12. The strands for students to understand are: (1) "Interdependence," how people, cultures, and systems are connected; (2) "Continuity and Change," how…