This report highlights the importance of addressing the unique set of needs of middle-level students. The struggle over structuring and content of middle-level education--the K-8 versus middle-school/junior-high argument--mirrors to a considerable extent the broader recurring battle of traditionalism versus progressivism. There are few empirical…

The purpose of this booklet is to introduce parents of students with disabilities to the "big ideas" contained in school improvement efforts under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and to provide them with the information they need to help ensure that their children…

While California community colleges are open to all students eligible and able to benefit, most students must demonstrate that they are ready for college-level academic work by passing the college's placement exam once they enroll. Because California does not explicitly define college readiness standards for high school students, the placement…

To evaluate the adequacy and efficiency of preschool education in California, the RAND Corporation has undertaken the California Preschool Study to improve understanding of achievement gaps in the early elementary grades, the adequacy of preschool education currently given, and what efficiencies or additional resources might be brought to bear in…

As the 21st century approaches, many educators are debating the role of education in meeting students' and the economy's needs. This booklet describes the results of a modified Delphi study that asked a panel of 55 experts from education, business, and government how to best prepare students for the 21st century. During the course of three survey…

This report provides summary statistics on the entering freshmen classes of the 34 state institutions of higher education in the University System of Georgia, and is intended to assist in advising prospective students concerning their probable success in college. The formulas for predicting average freshmen grades (AFG) are intended primarily for…

In an effort to meet the accrediting criteria of the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, South Carolina Technical College undertook a comprehensive external evaluation of its continuing education program. Both process and products associated with the continuing education program were assessed using newly-generated and existing data.…

From 1992-94, a working group appointed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO's) European Centre for Higher Education (CEPES) reviewed the perceived and actual recognition of studies completed by students from Europe and the United States at institution on both continents. This report reviews that…

This document, prepared under the auspices of the Trilateral Initiative for North American Nursing, a professional organization of nursing, examines and compares nursing standards in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The report focuses on first-level, general nurses and advanced or specialty practice nurses, and is organized in four parts:…

This report presents the results of a survey of teachers', parents', and the general public's views on the impact of the National Curriculum on Primary Education in Great Britain since the passage of the 1988 Education Reform Act. Chapter 1 of the report introduces the survey and presents a general review of the survey's findings, while chapter 2…

The effectiveness of "Investors in People," which was launched in October 1991 as the United Kingdom's national standard for training and development, was evaluated through a 3-year longitudinal study that included interviews with a sample of 1,804 employers and a series of case study interviews. Of the 1,804 employers interviewed, 76.6%…

During the past several decades, educators have been experimenting with a variety of humanistic innovations to enrich students' academic, social, and emotional growth. These innovations include mainstreaming, inclusion, and detracking, and their intent is to reach out to all students, especially at-risk learners. To reach out, however, requires…

This policy brief discusses the impact on students with disabilities of educational reforms that emphasize higher academic standards for all students and zero tolerance policies to make schools safe learning environments for all students. The public's demand for higher standards and safe environments is also explored. The development of academic…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is one part of a comprehensive assessment system that is evolving in the United States. In the view of the NAEP Technical Subgroup for the National Education Goals Panel, the NAEP should be an independent, statistically rigorous longitudinal measure of educational attainment in the essential…

This publication presents five essays by teachers on accountability, particularly the descriptive review format for elementary and secondary education. Following a brief foreword, an opening essay, "Children's Values and Standards: Investigating Sources" (Cecelia Traugh), describes issues of teacher and student values and standards which…