A good assessment plan combines many direct and indirect measures to validate the collected data. One often controversial assessment measure comes in the form of retention exams. Although assessment retention exams may come with faults, others advocate for their inclusion in program assessment. Objective-based tests may offer insight to…

The information in this paper aims at providing assistance to those supervisors who design accountability plans. The author (1) analyzes the frequently overlooked distinctions needed to be made in considering accountability plans; and (2) discusses the more recent tools for implementing teacher accountability. Some distinctions presented include…

In the current trend toward improvement of instruction and accountability, the writing of objectives has become an almost universal requirement. Objectives, in fact, may be at a general, specific, or competency level, but it is impossible to begin to write any of these until a course configuration (format) has been developed. Construction of a…

The accountability of faculty for teaching is discussed with reference to the comprehensive course syllabus (an agreement on course content between faculty members and between teachers and students with course objectives states behaviorally), determination of the means of measuring the agreed-upon accomplishments, and responsibility of the…

In this paper, the author proposes a simple classification of objectives-based evaluation systems in terms of two inherent characteristics or functions they might serve. These functions are (1) evaluation scope, and (2) program generality. According to the author, the development of multipurpose, multiprogram evaluation systems in a broad variety…

Accountability, in the sense of educational efficiency, has popular political appeal in Australia. Yet there is urgent need for Australian educators to influence how accountability is to be defined and to determine how it is to be implemented at the school level. One useful definition of accountability, satisfactory to both teachers and the…

This report discusses one elementary school's implementation of a system of teaching and testing by objectives in compliance with a Michigan State Board of Education accountability model. The model used by the school called for (1) goals developed by each building; (2) performance objectives identified for subdivisions of schools, for teachers,…

A comparison is drawn between norm-referenced (or competitive) and criterion-referenced testing procedures as used for the purpose of assessing and grading knowledge gained from teaching. It is argued that competitive or norm-referenced grading practices are sadistic, unethical, statistically unsound, and irrelevant to course objectives.…

This is a guide to the nature, purpose, and potential uses of 12 course goal collections produced by the Tri-County Goal Development Project through the cooperative efforts of school districts and intermediate education districts of three counties in the metropolitan Portland, Oregon, area. The Project initially fostered collections of educational…