This report provides six mini-case studies of higher education policy reforms enacted in other states, exploring the important role that state policy leadership played in developing, promoting, and implementing these policies aimed at improving higher education outcomes, and discussing the relevance of each reform effort for California. This…

This book has been written for state board of education members and other citizens interested in public education. It is, in a sense, a primer in matters relating to learning, testing, assessment, and evaluation. Presented are some philosophical and political considerations in statewide educational evaluation. Learning is defined and the types and…

Three projects have been undertaken in Minnesota to define standards for student outcomes in postsecondary institutions. The Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board has focused on outcomes, standards, and criteria which may be used as templates for student assessment. The first project followed the publication of the State Department of…

A task force comprised of members from the North Carolina State Education Agency has developed a statewide plan for career education, which is outlined. Seven sections present: (1) objectives, task force background, and personnel; (2) a summary of information on North Carolina school programs; (3) a definition of career education encompassing the…

In California, ABE 321/326 provides funding for supplemental local assistance grants for Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), and ESL/Citizenship. This report presents findings and recommendations from the 1997-98 Adult Basic Education (ABE) 321/326 survey questionnaire developed by the Comprehensive Adult Student…

Traces the evolution of the state geography standards in Rhode Island and gives a summary of the work accomplished thus far toward implementing the National Geography Standards. Profiles several state and local initiatives and discusses the Standards that they represent. (MJP)

In December 1973, the Committee to Improve Performance of School Personnel was established. The task of the Committee was to create an effective system of improving professional performance which could be put into practice in any school situation in Kentucky, a system which could be utilized with all professional staff members whether they be…

The Sixth Annual Evaluation Report has been developed by the Florida State Advisory Council on Vocational and Technical Education through its evaluation committee. The recommendations reflect the Council's thinking as related to specific components of the Florida program of vocational and technical education. An introductory section contains a…

Higher education evaluation practices in seven states were assessed. Consolidated governing boards were present in Florida, Idaho, and West Virginia, while coordinating boards were present in Alabama, Colorado, and South Carolina. Washington State had an advisory board. For each state, a background paper on the state system was prepared by a…

In response to a proposal request from the state, Achieve reviewed the draft of Maryland's Pre-K-8 Voluntary State Curriculum (VSC) in Science (dated May 2004). This preliminary report summarizes their findings and also reflects the discussion that followed their presentation to representatives of the Maryland State Department of Education on…

The Chief State School Officers of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) have adopted a recommendation calling for comparable state measures of educational progress through multiple indicators, including student achievement. Current state criterion-referenced testing programs provide information regarding specific student skills and…

The Oregon State Board of Education initiated the Oregon Statewide Assessment Program in 1973 as a means for gathering data on student performance in the basic skills areas. Tests were administered to 27,086 fourth, seventh and eleventh grade students in 405 schools selected at random in March of 1982. Test results were returned to participating…

In the third comprehensive Utah Statewide Educational Assessment Program, the public elementary and secondary education system is analyzed regarding factors which influence student and school characteristics, classification and demographic measures of the educational process in the schools and classroom, and instructional approaches and techniques…

In its sixth annual evaluation report for fiscal year 1974, the Illinois State Advisory Council on Vocational Education found that although the total program of vocational and technical education has grown both in quality and in number of persons served, there are still many needs to be met. High school dropouts, graduates, and adults need at…

To report on a large number of wide-ranging vocational and career education programs, the Florida State advisory council utilized the three broad goals developed for such evaluations by the U. S. Office of Education, the National Advisory Council, and an ad hoc committee representing State advisory councils, responding to specific items of inquiry…