This brief paper summarizes data collected by the National Association for State Directors of Special Education on state policies concerning accountability for students with disabilities receiving special education in public or private settings outside of district K-12 school buildings. It focuses specifically on participation in assessments and…

Many students who attend school in California also take paper or computerized-adaptive tests developed in cooperation with the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). These tests report student performance on a single, cross-grade scale, which NWEA calls the RIT scale. This scale was developed using Rasch scaling methodologies. RIT-based tests…

This document is the annual effectiveness improvements report for Austin Community College in 2003. The report summarizes which improvements have been implemented and whether they have been successful or not. The seven areas of improvement that are looked at are: (1) workforce education; (2) transfer programs; (3) continuing education; (4) adult…

This study updates the Education Commission of the States' (ECS) Report on State Funding for Community Colleges: a 50 State Survey, which examined the way community colleges were funded by each state. Specifically, the study addresses the use of performance-based indicators in community colleges. The data was gathered by calling individual…

San Antonio College, a college of the Alamo Community College District, develops a system of academic program review in order to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the instructional services provided at the institution. This document provides guidelines on completing a program review. Through the review, the college aims to produce the…

This document is a report on the characteristics and demographics of early alert students at Santa Monica College (SMC) (California). Early alert students are those deemed by faculty to be at risk of continued success and progress at the community college. These students are identified and notified by mail regarding the services available to aid…

One of the most prevalent and controversial accommodations for students with disabilities is an audio presentation of written test material, the "read-aloud" accommodation. This study used test administration data from the Missouri Assessment Program to examine effects of using the read-aloud accommodation on the characteristics of…

This booklet provides guidance for implementing a standards policy in North Carolina. In 1997, the Committee on Standards and Accountability was created by the North Carolina General Assembly to advise the State Board of Education on a policy for student performance standards. The committee was charged with considering standards for promotion for…

This report presents findings of an analysis of state policies on student participation in assessments and accommodations for 2001. Major findings include: (1) participation options beyond the usual three (participation without accommodations, participation with accommodations, alternate assessment) have become more evident and include partial…

This report, conducted by the Illinois Community College Board, highlights and summarizes accountability activities and initiatives described by Illinois' 48 community colleges in their 2002 Accountability/Program Review Reports. The report provides evidence that Illinois' comprehensive community colleges play a vital role in the state's…

The Assessment Bridge uses four major components to span the gaps between testing, curriculum, and change. The book focuses on the context in which educational testing operates and suggests a view of testing, not as a narrowing of the curriculum, but as a way to deepen teachers involvement in creating the ideas that must be assessed so that…

This paper explores the development of universal design and considers its application to large-scale assessments. Universal design is a concept that originated in the field of architecture, but quickly expanded into environmental initiatives, recreation, the arts, health care, and now, education. In addition to the concept's application to…

Debate is well under way regarding the efficacy of the "No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act," including whether this bundle of federal rules and resources is prompting gains in student achievement. Spirited conversation will intensify as the Congress discusses how to adjust and reauthorize this ambitious set of school reforms. Both state and…

In light of the continuing debate over the relative merits of various ways of assessing student achievement, it seems appropriate to examine longitudinal data which reflect student performance on one measure as a basis for recognizing and utilizing the measure's particular strengths. This study is the follow-up to an earlier study conducted using…

The purpose of this study was to determine the more appropriate strategy for improving eighth-grade portfolio entries. There was a comparison between two specific types of revising/correcting conferences, self-assessment and peer conferences. Most of the research concerning the writing process focuses on peer conferencing; however, it was…