Massachusetts' Board of Higher Education is moving to develop one state higher education institution as an elite campus to draw the state's best students, as Commonwealth College of Massachusetts. Ten institutions are competing for approval of their institutions and models, which include elements such as enhanced curricula and honors programs,…

Examines problems in external university evaluation associated with a small country, such as Lithuania, including lack of resources, lack of competition, language of instruction, and program condensation as part of the transition from communist rule. Perceived needs include specific international academic standards, performance indicators, and…

Addresses the concern of educational adequacy: the availability of properly financed and managed accelerated-education programs that produce high minimum educational outcomes for disadvantaged students. Offers 11 specific educational policy and organizational elements that can be implemented to "remedy" educational inadequacy by courts in…

Relates the experiences of a class of 25 masters students in education and their attempts to incorporate criteria from two educational frameworks into their course assignments. The students used the five key features of "Powerful Social Studies for Elementary Students "and guidelines from the National Council on Social Studies standards.…

Describes a continuous school-wide effort begun in 1994 by Nogales High School (Arizona) to improve student writing. Nogales students in 2000 and 2001 scored at or above the state averages on the writing assessment portion of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS). Advocates involving all teachers from all disciplines in the effort to…

A literature review of teacher stress in Scotland found that hours worked by teachers have not changed significantly over the last decade, but the number of unpopular tasks over which teachers have little control has increased, resulting in increased stress. Being forced to implement mandated changes also increases teacher stress. (Contains 46…

Examines three themes in the area of standards and accountability as they apply to the current condition of teacher education in California and elsewhere: why the teacher education standards movement has gained inertia so quickly, the consequences of standards on existing accreditation processes such as that of the National Council for…

This article describes ways, based on the curriculum, to measure the progress of students with disabilities and then provides practical information on how to set up and use curriculum-based measurement (CBM) procedures to design meaningful and easy-to-communicate assessments for students. Tips for efficiency with CBM procedures are discussed.…

Issues that must be addressed if predominantly Anglo-American universities are to improve minority participation and achievement rates without sacrificing quality include help minority students graduate, plan strategically, encourage perceptions of comfort, expect support from faculty, present reflective curriculums, and promote diversity. (MLW)

Some states are mandating basic skills testing and encouraging comprehensive universities to provide remedial programs for students who do not pass the tests. Texas House Bill 2182 is an example of this trend and is discussed in light of 10 key issues posed by assessment experts. (Author/MLW)

Discussion of student assessment at the college level looks at the relationship between grading and student learning and proposes an alternative system in which letter grades would be replaced with a two-part evaluation by the student and teacher. A practical compromise using letter grades is also outlined. (MSE)

Discusses the need for consensus about the ethics of need-blind admission by focusing on principles concerning the practice of college admissions. Argues that colleges should not abandon need-blind admissions but should, instead, remove expectations that colleges should meet the full needs of all the students they accept. (RJM)

Investigates students' reasons for migrating from an urban to a suburban community college district as reported in the college choice literature and a three-campus survey. Migrating students rated academic factors highest, safety of moderate importance, and proximity of less importance. Transfer patterns and attitudes were similar across ethnic…

Students who learn more geography have a dual payoff: intellectual challenge through the introduction of new, stimulating information about people, places, and regions; and exposure to career possibilities that did not exist even five years ago. The 18 national geography standards stress a spatial world view, places and regions, physical and human…

National education goals are admirable, but achieving them democratically will be challenging, in the face of growing child poverty and current standardization efforts. Contributors to this special issue are "transformationists" advocating new definitions of school curriculum; new organizational arrangements to promote diversity;…