In the service of accountability, educators have been emphasizing the student as consumer, client, customer. Consequently, assessment is asking the wrong questions of the wrong people. Outcome measures are often intended to evaluate student and teacher performance rather than to assess teaching and learning. Anthony Petrosky's study of literacy in…

Neither teacher-made tests nor the Scholastic Aptitude Test are appropriate for measuring the attainment of national education goals. Most practitioners involved in discussions of national high-stakes examinations argue that new tests are needed. A new system that preserves state and local autonomy in education as it measures the attainment of…

In Canada today there is a clear move toward a more outcomes-based education system. This report examines the state of high school student assessment and reviews standards and accountability strategies. It reports on the policies, programs, and initiatives in all provincial ministries or departments of education and a sample of school boards…

This essay presents the results of a study of the means that colleges and universities should use to assure proper accountability within the institution in regard to teaching and learning. It discusses the basis of institutional accountability, public perceptions of accountability (or lack thereof), the role of governments and market forces, the…

This theme issue focuses on the drastic revision of the Texas education code undertaken during the 1995 state legislative session. "Education Policy Reform: Key Points for Districts" (Albert Cortez, Mikki Symonds) outlines critical issues in the legislation that have an impact on educational quality: charter schools exempt from state…

This report charts a vision for preparing California teachers for the 21st century. The report is an adaptation of the national framework found in the Association of Teacher Educators' report, "Restructuring the Education of Teachers." Recognizing that learning to be an effective teacher is a developmental process, the report is…

This annual report provides an overview of Arapahoe Community College's (Colorado) efforts to improve undergraduate education and the success of those efforts as of 1993-94. After outlining changes made in the transfer, vocational education, and developmental studies programs, the report provides information on specific recommendations implemented…

Understanding the education agendas being promoted by state and federal politicians is critical in comprehending the factors affecting rural education. Equally important is developing an effective rural school improvement strategy that is viewed favorably by policymakers. Five areas represent the focal points of state and federal education…

This report describes some of the benefits to the state of the University of Colorado's (CU) teaching and research activities; profiles CU students; discusses aspects of the academic experience; analyzes student costs; and summarizes the University's fiscal accountability. The report presents highlights of CU's activities; including: (1) CU is the…

This paper analyzes the current proposals by the government of Alberta, Canada, to implement an accountability framework for the province's postsecondary institutions using performance indicators. The paper develops a conceptual framework for performance indicators based on a discrepancy model of evaluation using three metaphors: mechanical,…

Designed to aid in the development of goals and objectives for the City College of San Francisco (CCSF), in California, this atlas provides data on student outcomes, institutional finances, and other accountability information for the 1993-94 and 1994-95 academic years, with longitudinal data included where available. Following a brief…

In response to calls for increased accountability in educational institutions, the American Association of Community Colleges developed the following 13 core indicators of institutional effectiveness: student goal attainment, fall to fall persistence rates; degree completion rates; placement rates in the work force; employer assessments of…

This document, which is intended for individuals responsible for planning and management at further education (FE) colleges, summarizes the factors that contributed to or obstructed implementation of strategic plans in 10 FE colleges in England and Wales in 1994-95. It presents key questions and illustrations that FE colleges can use for…

In an effort to meet all federal, state, and accreditation requirements, as well as accountability demands from business and industry, Iowa's Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) developed a 3-year faculty-driven process to develop a plan for assessing student outcomes. The first step in the process was the formation of a 22-member faculty…

The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) workbook is intended to assist institutions of higher education conduct qualitative and quantitative evaluations of their financial aid operations in relation to requirements of Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The workbook provides a structured approach for incorporating a cyclical Title IV QA system into…