The purposes of the 2003 Public Opinion Survey on Education in Indiana are to serve as a standardized approach for reliable measurement of public opinion, to allow for reliable comparisons to results of similar survey research projects, and to provide a research methodology that facilitates replication in the future and comparisons of results…

This discussion forum focused on Edison Schools and their new business initiative, Edison Affiliates. The forum included two vice presidents of Edison and the president and chief operating officer of Edison Schools. The first speaker explained that Edison Schools operates 150 schools with about 82,000 students nationwide. They constitute the 35th…

This report contains state and school district student testing results for the Oklahoma Testing Program for the 1998-99 school year. Several benchmarks are reported, including the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS), Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests (OCCT), and American College Test Assessment (ACT) results. The National Assessment of Educational…

This report discusses various quality indicators for Front Range Community College (Colorado). Each of the 10 quality indicators and 10 additional indicators shown in the report is elaborated by details such as indicator description, operational definition, benchmark, source, results, and conclusion. Quality indicators include: (1) Student success…

Oregon state standards are presented for the 2004-2005 school year. These include the following:curricular goals; standards; benchmarks; and criteria for levels of initial mastery, advanced mastery, and diploma. This tool is published annually to ensure constituents have access to the most updated information about Oregon's content standards both…

Explains benchmarking, a total quality management tool used to measure and compare the work processes in a library with those in other libraries to increase library performance. Topics include the main groups of upper management, clients, and staff; critical success factors for each group; and benefits of benchmarking. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the concept of quality in relation to educational programs. Highlights include quality as a process rather than as excellence; education's relationship to the community and to business and industry; the need for a mission statement, including desired outcomes; horizontal and vertical integration; and benchmarking. (LRW)

Researchers followed the progress of 10 restructured secondary schools as they "detracked" their curriculum. Most schools abolished low-level courses in favor of regular classes with honors options. Two middle schools developed a common curriculum; some high schools required all students to pass benchmark classes. Others created opportunities for…

Describes how state higher education governing boards can use benchmarking to provide direction for colleges and universities. Provides an in-depth example and indicators used by selected state higher education boards. (EV)

There is significant public policy concern that teacher salaries in the United States are insufficient to make teaching in public schools financially attractive; consequently, there are not enough high-quality teachers. This concern has been particularly acute of late for two reasons. First, new empirical research shows teacher quality to be the…

There is increasing interest in understanding and describing the links between education and "social cohesion". However, the theoretical and empirical base for understanding these links is limited. There is also a shortage of practical tools for education policy-makers and planners, to help them assess the impact of policies and…

During workshops held in March and April of 2005, Michigan educators got a lesson in how to benchmark their work against promising practices in higher-performing schools with similar socioeconomic profiles. Teams of teachers, educational supervisors, and principals from 13 elementary and middle schools that had been struggling to make adequate…

In a globalized economy, the meaning of the word "community" has changed. No businessperson today can afford to ignore what is happening outside his or her hometown. The same goes for community college executives. No community can generate economic growth without business growth. Businesses need factors of production, such as labor, capital,…

For the past ten years, researchers at the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis (CHEPA) have spoken with students, teachers, counselors, administrators and family members about what is most helpful in preparing students for college. The majority of CHEPA's research has been conducted at urban, low-income schools serving high proportions of…

Benchmarks and standards have become an important part of the teachers' instructional focus since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. As educators they all recognize the importance of having high expectations of their students. Standards help schools articulate these expectations clearly to students, their parents, and the community. Yet, there…