The academization process in Israeli colleges of teacher education was designed to attract better teacher candidates and improve professional status. Research examining resulting changes in curricula and student populations found that the colleges were moving appropriately toward improving academic programs and raising admission requirements but…

Highlights the historical aspects and issues surrounding equity in urban school mathematics. The author briefly describes five articles that examine the significant problems facing urban school mathematics reformers as well as how to address these problems, including several examples of school reform efforts. (GR)

Discussion of the profession of librarianship and its future focuses on the "Strategic Visions" program that identifies needed values and goals for the profession. Highlights include a new professional structure; improved library school accreditation processes; improvement of educational standards; certification of librarians; continuing…

This article discusses advantages and disadvantages of competency-based education and training (CBET), with emphasis on its application to vocational and higher education in Australia. Argues that, although CBET model is suitable for most vocational programs, the very nature of higher education prohibits its use at colleges and universities. (MDM)

Maintains that the release of the National Geography Standards in October 1994 was not a culmination of reform but the beginning of educational improvement in geography. Discusses geographic concepts and the continued role of educational technology in geographic instruction. (CFR)

Philosophical and theoretical debates have created some uncertain direction in the curriculum field. The article claims that efforts toward systematic curriculum reform may fail because of inconsistency, maintaining that effective curricular and systematic reform will occur when stakeholders agree on intended goals and identify actions that…

Discusses the rationale for tribal colleges creating their own accreditation standards. Indicates that although contemporary standards are generally tolerable, tribal colleges are evaluated against standards and expectations foreign to tribal environments and needs. Suggests that spirituality, social systems, governance, economics, language, and…

Provides an interview with Dr. Patricia Thrash, the executive director of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education at the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Describes recent changes in accreditation and special concerns raised by the unique service population of tribal colleges. (MAB)

George Washington University (District of Columbia), already under fire for recruiting a basketball player who pleaded guilty to sexual assault, has also drawn criticism for offering an academic scholarship to his victim. The athlete has met academic requirements to earn a grant and to play in his freshman year. (MSE)

Examination of educational reform efforts in the United States and United Kingdom suggests that, although both seek improvement, approaches differ greatly. The British tradition of high academic standards for the elite is being extended to all ability levels, whereas the United States approach is to strengthen testing without compromising…

Presents an interview with Grant Wiggins, executive director of an educational consulting group. Discusses performance assessment and authenticity in testing. Addresses topics such as the student as worker, diploma as exhibition of mastery, authenticity of assessment, fairness, and skill as opposed to knowledge. Urges examining desired social…

Comparison of data on 8,748 students with learning disabilities (LD) and 78,757 nondisabled peers who took the American College Testing (ACT) examinations found ACT performance less predictable for the LD group. For both groups, math credits best predicted ACT Math scores, and high school grade point average best predicted ACT English and Science…

Offers 10 academic criteria considered essential for states to adopt when establishing their educational standards. As an aid to standard setters, the article includes a list of titles from the "Defining World-Class Standards" series written by the American Federation of Teachers. Criteria categories are math, science, history and social…

Multicultural education has at least two faces--an academic one and an ideological one. Encouraging the balkanization of U.S. culture threatens to undermine the academic integrity of the social studies curriculum. Offers suggestions to make sure that schools are offering an academically rigorous multicultural curriculum, not political…

Analyzes the concept and purposes of school delivery standards. Argues against using school delivery standards for accountability, but supports school process standards to create a vision of what education can be. School performance standards that lead to school input and process indicators would provide useful insights. (SLD)