This research examines how public school principals in eight U.S. states perceive their teacher evaluation systems, which are based on Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching (FfT). States were selected to represent high, middle, and low scorers in the annual "Education Week" "Quality Counts" report (Education Week, 2016).…

We have developed simple data-mining algorithms to assess the consistency and the randomness of student responses to problems consisting of multiple true or false statements. In this paper we describe the algorithms and use them to analyze data from introductory physics courses. We investigate statements that emerge as outliers because the class…

The standard evaluation forms used in most college and university courses are ill suited to assess courses and instructors whose goals and pedagogy differ significantly from the "chalk and talk" approach to undergraduate instruction. This article discusses an evaluation form that the author, a professor emeritus of economics at the…

Until recently, states focused on ensuring the presence of a "highly qualified teacher" in every classroom. Under the 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), this title described a teacher holding at least a bachelor's degree and the appropriate state license and…

Assessment of specialized programs, such as logistics and supply chain management program described here, may pose challenges because previous experience are less widely shared than in the more mainline subjects. This case study provides one model that may guide other faculties facing a similar assignment. The report detailed the steps followed to…

A perspective of state assessment, state goal-setting, and state standards adoption is presented. Relationships among these three concepts are noted and the relationship of all three to a system orientation is explored. The recent history of national and state assessment is documented. Attention is given in this historical overview to the manner…

This document describes the development of a Wisconsin state plan for career education. First, the profile of the proposal is presented. Next, the major activities are described, including formation of the advisory group; needs assessment of students, educational staff, and community groups; identification of resources; and the development of…

The design of an evaluative study of a program for providing information and referral services (I&R) through a coordinated network of semi-autonomous I&R centers is described in this report. The program, implemented by the state of Wisconsin as a demonstration project from 1972-1974 was operated by the Division on Aging, Department of…

Wisconsin has been exploring educational targets or outcomes since 1992 in conjunction with legislation mandating student assessment. While the establishment of outcomes does not necessarily indicate that a school subscribes to an outcome-based education (OBE) philosophy, the two could go together. OBE requires identification of outcomes prior to…

This document is a kit for conducting a program of performance appraisal for first line supervisors (such as department chairpersons) in instructional departments in two-year colleges. It was developed for use in selected postsecondary technical institutes in Wisconsin, but could be used in nontechnical settings. The first three sections of the…

Quantitative output measures for municipal and county public library services in Wisconsin provide points of reference for libraries to analyze their needs and establish primary service goals based on unique community-targeted services. Traditional input measures are also furnished, which produce various recommended targets, based on the size of…

Volume II contains six appendices to Volume I, including short summaries of the 18 schools that were studied. Appendices included in this report are: (1) Evaluation Methodology; (2) Promising Reform Strategies; (3) Descriptions of the Research-Based Methods or Strategies Being Used; (4) Short Summaries of 18 Comprehensive School Reform…

Comprehensive school reform calls for a "whole-school" and coordinated approach to improve schools. The strategy differs from piecemeal and fragmented efforts that also in the past have seemed only to lead to short-lived changes. To stimulate whole-school reform across the country, Congress appropriated funds in FY1998 for the U.S.…

The Milwaukee Bilingual Education Program has been guided by behavioral objectives related to desired pupil, staff, management, parent and community outcomes. The objectives were developed and revised mainly by curriculum supervisors. Frequent references are made to two publications, "Milwaukee Public Schools Bilingual Elementary Program…

This study finds that nearly every school in the Great Lakes states is threatened to fail the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements mandated by the federal "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) Act. NCLB holds schools and districts accountable for student achievement on state standardized tests and schools that do not make AYP face…