National patterns of power and control in higher education are key determinants of the conceptions of academic excellence and equality that prevail in particular systems. This paper examines five countries with predominantly state-controlled systems of higher education--West Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, and Japan--and two with mixed control…

Criteria for assessing achievement, progress, and attitudes of students as individuals are discussed. (RW)

Important findings about students declining test scores were made public recently in a report of a national study by the American College Testing Program (ACT), with apparently conclusive evidence that a national decline in test scores is real and that it is significant. Reviews the highlights of findings in the ACT report. (Author/RK)

Discusses assessment in special education and the use of technology in special education assessment. It provides a list of 31 references pertaining to the use of technology in special education assessment. Only those references that pertain specifically to children or youth at risk or with disabilities were chosen. (CR)

Examines the impact of technology on educational effectiveness in the United States as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Presents five items from NAEP and TIMSS tests that may favor students with technology experience. Concludes that further…

Findings from a study of diverse assessment practices in a fifth-grade classroom were used to develop a framework for describing assessment system practices. The framework is used to compare different assessment activities, and new criteria for designing systemically valid assessments to support and extend classroom practices are proposed. (SLD)

A strategy, the assessment conversation, that helps teachers elicit student understanding and then use student understanding as the basis for conceptual and reasoning goals in the classroom is described. Assessment conversation is illustrated in the context of the Science Education through Portfolio Instruction and Assessment project, aimed at…

Dynamic assessment is described as a framework for the educational diagnosis of writing disabilities that is consistent with process models of writing instruction. Procedures use interview and response-to-instruction paradigms to study children's abilities and their knowledge of procedures for writing. Diagnostic protocols are outlined and…

A model for the recalibration of teacher assessment that assesses and evaluates in one operation is formulated. The instructional effectiveness coefficient is discussed as an edumetric device, and a new research-evaluation model that is quantitatively intuitive and empirical is formulated. The model is nonstochastic in its logic. (Author/SLD)

"Measuring Up" describes the current standards-based educational reform movement for a general audience and professionals who have not been involved in reform. The simplified perspective does not do justice to the complexity of reform issues in some contexts, but the case studies illustrating reform efforts are particularly useful. (SLD)

Learning environments and assessments must be designed to include homeless children in their reform efforts. Although homelessness is not a problem educators can solve, they must be sure that they do not contribute to its problems through neglect of disadvantaged children. (SLD)

Explores whether OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) inspections result in improvement in British schools. One-third of the 821 secondary teachers surveyed expressed an intention to change practice as a result of inspection. Seniority level was linked with intention to change and content of that change. Teaching experience, preparation,…

Findings from reports of 75 children (ages 3-5) with autism indicate 39% had no standardized assessments before education authorities determined their special education provision and only 9% had follow-up assessments for evaluating progress. The development of a protocol for prescribing specific educational intervention and evaluating progress is…

Discusses the significance, challenges and process of infusing assessment practices into religious education programs. Reports key findings from an assessment survey distributed to parish catechetical staffs and then outlines how assessment contributes to the creation of a strategic plan for faith formation. (Contains seven references.) (RC)

A systematic, consistent design framework provides a common language for educational change. A performance-based curriculum design model within a learning-centered framework focuses instruction on expectation and allows for varied and innovative teaching strategies. (SK)