Reviews history of writing portfolios, emphasizing differences between portfolios designed for instructional purposes and those intended to serve as tests. Suggests that because even carefully designed portfolio systems do not function as intended, portfolio users should expect evaluation and adjustment to be part of the portfolio process.…

The regulatory environment in which long daycare centres are required to operate plays a key role in determining what early childhood professionals do and how they go about doing it. This paper reports findings from a state-wide survey undertaken in New South Wales, Australia, which shows how early childhood professionals position themselves on…

The paper discusses the major issues connected with the accreditation procedures in higher education system in the U.S. The questions raised are as follows: what are the reliable and credible indicators of quality instruction that could be measured in the process of accreditation of higher education institutions? How does greater transparency in…

"Policy and Performance in American Higher Education" presents a new approach to understanding how public policy influences institutional performance, with practical insight for those charged with crafting and implementing higher education policy. Public institutions of higher learning are called upon by state governments to provide…

The Texas example illustrates the challenge faced by today's charter movement: how to meet growing demand while maintaining quality. Its considerable progress is sometimes obscured by headlines about the few schools at the top that generate enormous excitement and world-class achievement and the few at the bottom that use their autonomy for unwise…

It has been suggested that policy formation may be influenced by multiple models, institutional theories, rations models of policy, as well as policy perceived as an interpretive problem. This paper examines the history of accountability reporting and educational goals policy in New Mexico and recent evidence from school-level personnel in light…

Three major investigations were conducted in an effort to determine the impact of home school regulations on educational enrollments in the United States. Home school regulations were obtained from state departments of education and investigated to determine the strength of the accountability measures. Populations representative of the school-age…

Opponents of school choice argue that private schools are not "accountable" because they are not subject to detailed oversight by a regulatory bureaucracy. They claim private school employees can be expected to engage in abusive and criminal behavior more frequently. School choice supporters respond that parents hold private schools…

This paper attempts to conceptualize, sort, and analyze national and state policies that have affected teacher education programs during the last 30 years. If teacher recruitment, preparation, licensing, and professional development are situated at the ropes center, then who is winning the tug-of-war over teacher education policy making. The paper…

This report addresses the relationship between the school accountability measures required for Title I schools and those put in place by state and local jurisdictions. The document's main focus is on the degree of coherence and compatibility among the multiple accountability systems, as well as the level and coordination of support provided to…

Examines the role of the states in evaluating career colleges, indicating that state oversight is a response to demands for accountability related to student achievement and the use of financial aid. Suggests that the overall result of state monitoring may be a forced convergence of career and community colleges. (17 citations) (MAB)

A discussion of the relationship between the Scottish funding agency for higher education and universities focuses on expectations of the council for lay members of the governing bodies and the appropriateness of those expectations. Whether the state can continue to respect institutional autonomy while seeking greater accountability for public…

In this discussion paper, I seek to understand the complex interaction between notions of "professionalism" and gendered identity constructions against the backdrop of increased state regulation and demands for performativity in the early years. I seek to explore the ways in which "teacher professionalism" is constructed by…

This study examined Alabama and Tennessee state education report card data for 1998 through 2003. The purpose of the study was to determine whether there were measurable differences in reported accountability indicators between districts that elected and those that appointed superintendents. The study also examined trends in attrition and hiring…

This report describes the status of Texas public education in six chapters. The first chapter is a summary compilation of overall student performance on the state performance assessments. Over 78 percent of all students taking the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) passed all tests taken compared to 73 percent in 1998. This is impressive…