This digest examines issues concerning performance assessment of students receiving special education services. Issues addressed are: (1) need to infuse performance assessment into national programs including the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS); (2) current lack of inclusion of…

Brittle paper, cheap bindings, mistreatment, and poor storage conditions are threatening to destroy thousands of scholarly documents throughout the United States unless preservation activities are successfully incorporated into all levels of library operations. In order for the preservation and access to information movement to succeed, there must…

This overview of nationwide bicentennial efforts with particular relevance for elementary and secondary educators deals with three apsects of the commemoration. First discussed is the programming that national organizations, such as the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, Project '87, The American Bar Association (ABA), and…

This ERIC digest discusses the National Standards for Civics and Government for students from grades K-12. The Standards are organized around five central questions dealing with the following subjects: (1) the nature and necessity of government; (2) the foundations of American constitutionalism; (3) the functioning of American government and the…

Many organizations, school districts, and state departments of education are posting useful materials on the Internet for anyone interested in Goals 2000, world-class standards, and school restructuring. This digest identifies key Internet offerings related to Goals 2000 and world-class standards. Pointers to each of these offerings can be found…

Federal legislation authorizing the creation of the National Research and Education Network (NREN)--i.e., the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-194)--was signed into law by the President in December 1991. This network is envisioned as an expansion and enhancement of the existing U.S. Internet, the collection of interconnected…

This report was compiled to serve as a reference on assessments of achievement in pre-college mathematics. Patterns of mathematical assessments are discussed in terms of the history and nature of assessments of achievement, the relationship between assessment and minimum competency testing, and the current status of state assessment programs.…

This edited volume describes the population of heritage language speakers in the United States and outlines what needs to be done to help them develop their languages for use in academic and professional arenas. The book is divided into an introduction plus 14 chapters in 5 sections. The introduction, "Charting a New Course: Heritage Language…

This document argues that current efforts to establish a national test to measure progress toward the nation's educational goals will inhibit, rather than advance, educational reform. Proponents of a national test have asked for single, primarily multiple-choice tests, or for performance assessments to measure progress toward the nation's…

Organizations and programs related to migrant education are cited in this directory containing entries based on responses received through mail and telephone surveys. Entries are listed alphabetically by state within the following categories: national activities (7 entries), migrant education resource centers (8), Section 143 migrant education…

Organizations and programs with a major emphasis in rural education and small schools are listed in this directory. The entries--derived from a survey conducted in late 1985 and early 1986--are listed alphabetically by state within national, regional, state, and university categories. A brief description of the activity's function is followed by…

Provided in this document are case studies of representative and exemplary innovative environmental education programs from various regions of the world (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia/Oceania). The case studies provide information on the environment and environmental problems and concerns…

Intended to encourage both migrant and non-migrant educators to explore the possibilities of adopting and/or adapting the cited programs or appropriate components into their own units, this volume updates the 1974 description of some of the many programs that have proven effective in serving migrant students. Chapter I summarizes seven programs…

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) was established in 1987 and charged with the mission of improving the quality of teaching and public education. The National Board certification system involves three critical elements: (1) standards setting; (2) assessment instruments; and (3) professional development. This Digest…

Focusing on the major educational initiatives of our times--the National Education Goals outlined and endorsed in 1990 by the nation's governors, and President Bush's America 2000 strategy--this report reviews and summarizes information about the role of libraries in many different educational efforts designed to meet the national goals. It is…