This report reviews recent state initiatives in education reform, including state legislation, state programs, and decisions by state boards of education. The initiatives have been organized according to the eight recommendations for improvement made by the Task Force on Education for Economic Growth. These recommendations were to (1) develop…

This report explores policies and practices governing online education with a particular focus on policies aiming to provide students with high-quality online learning experiences. The report looks specifically at two areas: state-level policies governing online education, and statewide online programs (i.e., programs created by legislation or by…

This overview contains annual evaluation reports of State Advisory Councils on Vocational Education (SACVEs) in 57 states and territories as well as an analysis of what, on a national level, the reports seem to say. Part 1 is the overview analysis of SACVE annual reports. It focuses on 10 relatively common issues or concerns: funding, leadership…

This book identifies factors, structures, and procedures contributing to effective statewide coordination and governance of public colleges and universities. The heart of the book consists of descriptions of representative structures in 4 states, where interviews were conducted with 114 individuals--legislators, gubernatorial staff, system heads,…

This guide to legislation and state board of education policy on minimum competency testing is designed to explain the legal basis for minimum competency testing mandates in the various states. Specifically, it explores: the differences between board mandates and state legislation; details of the requirements--subject areas, grade promotion and…

This article provides an overview of policymaking in relation to state and local district testing and accountability and concludes by identifying continuing policy issues and strategies for local implementation of standards-based secondary education that aligns with current testing and accountability policies. Governance models for curriculum…

The movement towards state-mandated minimum competency testing peaked in 1977-1978. Activity now centers on implementation: most programs will be implemented by 1980-81. To initiate programs, twenty-four states have used the state board approach, 20 enacted legislation, and six have passed both board and legislation mandates. Only Maine, Kansas,…