Reports on a survey of U.S. and Canadian graduate programs in art education. Examines responses from 124 programs to determine the location, scope, and nature of graduate programs in art education including the content and strategies that are addressed. Presents detailed findings and general conclusions. (DSK)

Discusses the purpose and focus of human-rights education. Traces the definition of human rights, emphasizing the role of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Compares the U.S. record on human rights against the UDHR. Suggests that human-rights education is limited, and offers ideas for improvement (DSK)

Discusses the practice of grade repetition in French schools, indicating that repetition is not beneficial to the pupil concerned. Notes that countries that have abandoned grade repetition have not suffered a lowering of educational standards, nor have they incurred extra costs, and describes ways to achieve this end. Contains 11 references. (EMH)

Traces how the idea of measuring the connection between school science and public awareness of science has emerged. Describes the Program for International Student Achievement (PISA) project's indicators of educational progress in science. Contains 28 references. (Author/WRM)

Contends that erroneous assumptions held by faculty and administrators about higher education prevent necessary discussion among faculty and constituencies about the multiple missions and obligations of higher education. Identifies a number of critical questions for discussion both inside and outside of academic circles. (DSK)

In 1992, the government of Indonesia initiated the Primary Education Quality Improvement Project (PEQIP) to improve educational quality at the elementary level. A World Bank-sponsored assessment of school effectiveness in two provinces found very large differences in student achievement among schools, with implementation of PEQIP components…

Describes the revision process that the National Catholic Educational Association's Department of Religious education is currently undergoing to update and improve its religious education assessment surveys. Factors that have prompted revision pertain to ecumenical, social justice, and human sexuality concerns and use of age-appropriate and…

Discusses four critical questions raised in curriculum planning, based on cooperative librarian/teacher efforts at Miliani Mauka Elementary School (Hawaii). Questions focus on what to assess (knowledge or skills, process or product), reasons for assessing, when and how to assess, and who should do the assessing. Includes a sample assessment form…

A study evaluated the utility of classroom-based functional and adjunctive assessments of problem behaviors for two adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and comorbid oppositional defiant disorder. Classroom interventions derived from information obtained during assessments resulted in reductions in problem behaviors. Teacher…

At the age of 91, Ralph W. Tyler reflects on his long and distinguished career as an educator and educational researcher in this interview. He comments on educational reforms, teacher education, the uses of educational assessment, and the purpose of education. (SLD)

Presents ideas for an assessment that reflects the curriculum standards set forth by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Discusses how assessment tasks are created to support instruction that values a mastery of the basics, mental mathematics, mathematical vocabulary, problem solving and writing in mathematics, calculator…

Observes that, in their attempts to respond to government pressures for higher standards, many schools have adopted similar initiatives. Draws on the work of Alasdair MacIntyre to suggest that these initiatives represent a tension between providing "effectiveness" and "excellence," and a deeper tension between modern and…

Although teacher unions promote private means of resolving labor conflicts instead of using public courts, they are engaged in a war on privatization, especially contracting out. It is surprising that the media and higher education take seriously the contention that unions do not negatively affect educational achievement. Advocates of "the…

Discusses testing accommodations for students with disabilities and describes the Assessment Accommodation Checklist (AAC), designed to facilitate consistent documentation and implementation of testing accommodations with these students. Examines state guidelines concerning the use of accommodations and provides sample items from the AAC. (DB)

Argues that the changes taking place in culture and the economy cannot be accommodated within traditional forms of schooling designed for the last century. Suggests that new managerialism in education is a quick-fix solution that may exacerbate the problem by freeze-framing culture and education in its own dated bureaucratic image. (DSK)