This paper is a combination of two separate essays, both of which examine changes in standards for student and teacher performance in various states over the past two years. Part 1 examines changes in standards for graduation from high school and the introduction or expansion of statewide programs of testing. Changes in the overall units for…

The resource guide for career education opens with discussions of the need for career education and a general introduction to the field. One-third of the guide is a State-by-State survey of career education efforts which contains each State's definition of career education, developmental activities, places to look at, publications, and the name…

This report presents findings of a nationwide study of student transitions from secondary to postsecondary education that is based on a survey of state higher education agencies and site visits to six states. The report finds a growing role for state higher education agencies in setting minimum college admissions requirements, coexistence of…

President Bush's comprehensive education plan includes major initiatives in areas ranging from accountability to school safety. While breaking new ground in some areas, Bush's plan accelerates the progress states have made in improving quality, performance, and flexibility in public education. This status report reviews the progress of states in…

The purpose of this bulletin is to present information relating to State programs for the improvement of rural school instruction in four States. The educational background conditioning the development of the plans and points of view held by the State education officials responsible for such development in the respective States have differed…

The forms of assessment used in preservice teacher assessment were studied through a survey of 166 colleges of education, a review of other national surveys, and a detailed examination of the policies of Alabama. The efforts made by one institution to use alternative methods recommended by the profession are explored. (SLD)

Some common questions that state legislators have about how distance learning can work in their states are explored. Distance learning, once considered strictly a rural education strategy, is now recognized to have the potential to provide solutions to some of the problems states face in delivering quality education to all students. A distance…

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA) requires all schools and districts receiving Title I money to engage in an extensive array of activities to build the capacity of parents and school staff to work together in support of students' learning. Title I also requires schools to…

To understand how assessment, particularly alternative assessment, and practice interactions may differ among schools with different implementation contexts and different school cultures, this project is studying over time a set of schools representing different state and local policy contexts and including different student populations. Research…

This paper outlines the issues involved in an assessment of the extent and success of the integration of academic and vocational education. It develops questions that could be addressed to state and local education officials to assess the effects of the 1990 amendments to the Carl Perkins Act on both state policies and local practices. Section I…

A random sample of 16 coordinators responsible for implementation of Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act were interviewed to determine if state data systems will be in a position to assist in monitoring service goals and in reaching populations typically underserved. The interviews assessed the availability of…

The Gifted Education Policy Studies Program was designed to address two issues: the status of state and local policies on the identification of gifted students from special populations (culturally diverse, children with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged); and the impact of educational reform movements (cooperative learning and middle…

A state-by-state overview of activities related to teacher policies and 11 tables reflecting types of policies in the states are presented in this working paper. Table 1 shows that most states require teacher education students to complete specific programs or coursework and that many also require some demonstration of competence. Table 2…

Data on the State University System (SUS) of Florida are presented in the form of tabular displays, charts, and graphs. Preliminary sections list members of the State Board of Education and the Florida Board of Regents and provide a description of the State University System of Florida. The nine major sections cover the following areas: (1)…

This review provides a background summary of the Commonwealth's involvement in the field of adult literacy in Australia. The review is not research based and does not make recommendations, but it highlights the issues that are important for the future direction of the Commonwealth's involvement in the field. The review is organized into seven…