Achieve was asked by the Washington State Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission, Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction, and the Partnership for Learning to conduct a study of the 10th grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). The intent of the study was to compare the content, rigor and passing scores on…

As part of a discussion of the complexities of evaluating bilingual education, this paper discusses critical questions related to equitable education. A first concern is the development of standards. Children must be given equal opportunities to learn, but the development of standards and new assessments alone will not ensure that inequities will…

Current trends affecting private research universities include: privatization, more programmatic support of research, dispersion of university research, and a shift in the balance of activities from the center toward the periphery. Differences in finance and control of private universities are related to their disproportionate importance, given…

As increasing numbers of students with diverse needs are included in general education, the preparation of preservice teachers needs to be reformed. Traditional curriculum, methods, and management courses need revision as the population in general education classes changes. With the trend toward full inclusion, the typical school classroom…

The Philadelphia Collaborative for Excellence in Teaching Education (CETP) helps develop, implement, and evaluate a new model for science and mathematics K-12 teacher preparation. It involves collaboration of two colleges and a school district. One of the collaborative's main objectives is to redesign the content and pedagogy of core mathematics…

The standards-based reform movement has the potential to improve American Indian education. The philosophy underlying the language arts standards that promotes the active use of authentic language and the teaching of skills in context, and the constructivist theory of learning reflected in the mathematics and science standards are both consistent…

This volume is a guide for assessing children with dual sensory or severe impairments between birth and age 5. It begins by discussing a functional-ecological three-step assessment process for children birth to three years, and the steps for assessing preschoolers from three to five years old. It then describes six steps to guide the use of the…

The Career Preparation Assessment (CPA) portfolio is an interdisciplinary, performance-based assessment of skills essential for the post-high school world. The CPA's value as an assessment tool was examined in a pilot test that was conducted in 1996-1997 with six California high schools. The following three data collection activities were…

This guide is designed to help teachers in automotive technician programs for grades 11 and 12 teach the critical competencies of the program. The critical competencies covered are the Priority 1 competencies in Ohio Occupational Competency Assessment Profile (OCAP) for Automotive Technician. Teacher materials include program/instructor resources,…

This workbook, one of six professional development manuals prepared by experienced adult basic education (ABE) instructors, is designed to assist the instructor setting up and operating an ABE classroom. A pretest and posttest appear first. Each of the units begins with a list of objectives and then provides instructional material. Unit 1…

This study examines the underlying structure of the teacher language arts and science questionnaires from a project studying the impact of the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP). The dimensions of the questionnaire concerning practices and attitudes related to the MSPAP were studied, as well as the extent to which the on-grade…

This book provides a blueprint for the professional development of urban teachers that fosters new communities of learning, embraces diversity, and prepares teachers through community and collaborative partnerships. It presents a model of a community teacher that embraces the communities where urban youth live. Case studies illustrate the…

In this study, a performance-based assessment was used to examine the effects of preservice preparation factors on culturally responsive teaching (CRT). The measure used to assess CRT among beginning teachers was derived from Praxis III, an assessment system developed by the Educational Testing Services and infused with sensitivity to culture as…

Explores the cognitive assessment of classroom learning and emphasizes applications in urban settings for at-risk students. It is argued that cognitive assessment by the classroom teacher is essential to fostering the achievement of cognitive and metacognitive learning that is called for in national reports. (SLD)

Contends that no single definition of critical thinking is widely accepted. Describes issues related to critical thinking and offers suggestions for demystifying the concept. Presents a framework for a psychology curriculum using performance-based assessment practices. (CFR)