What effect is the "back to basics" movement having on American teachers and schools? Are the media and the politicians taking the public for a ride? Reports on the controversies surrounding such issues as standards, testing and accountability. (Editor)

An education reporter who took a leave of absence to observe competency-based education writes about his findings, which include both support and criticism of competency-based programs. (MF)

This report provides data on 1993-94 student outcomes, public relations, and changes in teaching, curricula, and learning at the Community College of Denver (CCD). Following a summary of CCD's success in meeting its accountability goals, section I reviews 1993-94 changes in teaching, curricula, and learning and section II notes plans to…

A method of developing measurement instruments to assess academic achievement in proficiency-based education is presented. Materials and exercises are sequenced to correspond to major activities which must be completed in developing local assessment systems. The exercises contained in this workshop guide have been field tested and can be followed…

This document expands upon the discussion of standardized tests in federal legislation and Department of Education rules and regulations, in order to guide practitioners in using these tests and alternative assessment methods more wisely. Amendments of 1988 that address the uses of standardized tests, the federal regulations that implement the…