In 1998, fourth graders participated in the mathematics component of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning for the second year. A study of the results was conducted to determine which districts and schools had more students meeting the state's mathematics standards and how improved achievement came about. Data was gathered through…

In 1999, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) was administered to students in grades 4, 5, 8, and 10 to assess student achievement of the Sunshine State Standards in reading and mathematics as mandated by the Florida legislature. This report informs administrators, legislators, and the general public about the reading and mathematics…

In response to the growing achievement gap between English Learners (ELs) and non-ELs, standards-based instruction and assessment have been promulgated at the state and federal level. Yet, the consequences of standards-based assessment reforms for ELs have rarely been systematically studied. The work reported here represents the initial study of a…

This survey of graduate work in engineering has for its objective the presentation of the development and present status of graduate work in engineering in this country. The relatively rapid changes that have taken place in engineering education in recent years have caused greater activity and increased responsibility in graduate departments,…

This guide contains 19 science-based, multidisciplinary activities that teach what a watershed is, how it works and why we must all consider ourselves watershed managers. An extensive background section introduces readers to fundamental watershed concepts. Each activity adapts to local watersheds, contains e-links for further Internet research and…

In previous reports attention was called to the rapid improvements in medical education in the United States, secured through a campaign which was begun by the American Medical Association in 1904. At the beginning of the campaign, the number of medical schools in this country exceeded the total in all the rest of the world. There was clearly an…

Argues that it is inappropriate to attempt to achieve excellence in education by undermining the participation of Black athletes in intercollegiate athletics through reliance on standardized test scores, long viewed as unpredictable for measuring a student's ultimate resources. (CMG)

Four issues that have become prominent in law school accreditation as the profession adjusts to changes in itself, education, and the flow of consumers of legal education are discussed: the demand for new buildings, student faculty ratios, restricting law school admission to "A" and "B" level students, and faculty tenure. (MSE)

Provides an overview of state-mandated minimum competency testing programs. Describes the potential impact of competency testing on the school counselor. Proposes actions counselors might take to protect student well-being and counselor functions from misdirected regulation. (RC)

The responsibility of the admissions office in recruiting and admitting foreign students includes providing adequate and accurate information about program availability, financial aid, costs, and academic requirements; providing special personnel for handling applications; considering providing English language training; and providing adequate…

Critics of public education either ignore signs of scholastic progress and achievement or misinterpret statistics that show academic improvement. The real "crisis" in public education stems from economic and demographic factors that erode popular support for public schools. (FG)

A parent's perspective on testing and the U.S. educational system and on how today's society values quality and achievement is presented. Uninformed parental expectation and less informed, less dedicated, and less imaginative teaching are seen as resulting in diplomas awarded for attendance, automatic passing of students, and deterioration of…

Detailed and wide-ranging suggestions are offered for reforming Australia's higher degree requirements. The author, an Australian PhD, compares them with requirements in other countries and finds them "particularly regressive, unenlightened, intellectually counterproductive, undemocratic, and uncivilized." (JSR)

Some of the reasons for the unduly long time required to finish PhDs at the University of Sydney are examined, and two problem areas are noted: the imposition of excessive standards for ulterior motives, and inadequate supervision. Based on questionnaires, five specific reforms are suggested. (JSR)

Norm referenced data were utilized for determining the mastery cutoff score on a criterion referenced test. Once a cutoff score on the norm referenced measure is selected, the cutoff score on the criterion referenced measure becomes that score which maximizes proportion of consistent classifications and proportion of improvement beyond change. (CP)