Teaching all students to high standards may not be achievable with the way the vast bulk of schools in the United States are organized and managed. Under current school structures and management practices, marginal improvements are possible; significantly raising student achievement is not. Accomplishing this requires dramatic improvements that…

Student teaching handbooks from seven state-supported institutions of higher education that offered special education as a major in preservice teacher education programs were studied to determine the extent to which Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards for student teaching experiences were incorporated into teacher preparation…

This curriculum framework represents the first statewide guideline for learning, teaching, and assessment in history and social science for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts's public schools. The framework is based on sound research and effective practice and reflects a vision of how classrooms can and should look to assist all students to achieve…

This document explains the Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) policy on sustaining and promoting diversity in higher education (HE), defining diversity, discussing current dimensions of diversity in England's HE, and noting areas where diversity perhaps should not be encouraged. It also discusses what is being done to encourage…

This document outlines the performance standards for music in North Dakota public schools, grades K-12. Four levels of performance are provided for each benchmark by North Dakota educators for K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 grade levels. Level 4 describes advanced proficiency; Level 3, proficiency; Level 2, partial proficiency; and Level 1, novice. Each grade…

The standards in this document are intended to provide every student in North Dakota's public schools with a set of skills that will enable him or her to participate in lifelong leisure, avocational, or professional music pursuits. To help all students achieve the standards outlined in the booklet, North Dakota educators must continue to ensure…

Approaches and techniques for reaching the Communication goals of the "Standards for Foreign Language Learning" published in 1995 by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities are discussed. As background, two theoretical perspectives on how second language acquisition occurs are examined: input…

This guide is intended to be a tool to help educators and curriculum developers create curricula that reflect a comprehensive approach to learning and teaching in and through art. The guide is linked directly to the National Standards for Arts Education. The guide has several components, including: (1) 18 ability areas in art based on the four art…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that examined how educational reforms, specifically those related to new content and performance standards, assessments, and enhanced accountability, are being defined and implemented at the district, school, and classroom levels and how those reforms are involving and affecting special education…

This curriculum framework document was developed to define what students must learn in specific subject areas to ensure their ultimate success. This document provides guidance in the disciplines of mathematics, science, and technology. The purpose of these materials is to set content strands and performance indicators for all students in the…

A task force appointed by the governor developed Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards to encourage a higher level of learning for all public school students. The standards describe the skills children should have and the things they should know by the end of grades 4, 8, and 12. Every subject is divided into content standards that tell what…

As the world economy continues to evolve, businesses and industries must adopt new practices and processes in order to survive. Quality and cost control, work teams and participatory management, and an infusion of technology are transforming the way people work and do business. Employees are now expected to read, write, and communicate…

This publication outlines tests that are included in the North Carolina Testing Program. The end-of-grade tests are curriculum based multiple-choice reading comprehension and mathematics tests that measure curricular competencies described in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. These tests are administered to all eligible students within…

Governors and state and local education officials assumed that raising student achievement in the elementary and middle grades would solve the problems with high schools--but it hasn't. Why? Good information is the basis for successful improvement, and high school reform lacks accurate information about what students are to learn and about how…

The emerging policies of federal disengagement offer state leaders the opportunity to reassert the constitutional primacy of the states in providing higher education opportunities. Several proposals for action by Virginia's governor are presented, including improvement of educational standards by raising admission requirements and state…