A study to establish baseline data on the outcomes of doctoral education at a private, urban university is described. Areas examined are impact of doctoral education on career development; perceived influence of institutional values on graduates; and frequency and type of research/scholarly activities engaged in during and after graduate school.…

Five core skill areas have been identified as necessary in Youth Training Scheme programs in the United Kingdom. The City and Guilds of London Institute's courses in two of these areas, numeracy and communication skills, are described. Assessment policy and methods, including student profiling, are discussed. (GDC)

Provides an analysis of the essentials for providing quality child care, taking into consideration interaction among the child caregiver and the children, activities, caregiver-parent interaction, caregiver development, leadership, staffing, school space, health and safety, and nutrition. (HOD)

This article discusses implementation of the California Department of Education's accountability program, its structure and function, selection of performance indicators, and recognition of schools. A survey of school officials found strong support for the concept of accountability, but weak agreement on the specifics to implement it. (Author/JAZ)

In studies involving matrix sampling on items, it is often the case that there are too few responses per individual to use latent trait item response models. A model is formulated wherein individual level variability appears as independent error within the cells of a cross classification of demographic variables. (JKS)

This paper summarizes the main results of a meta-evaluation of innovative education programs in Dutch education. Attention is focused on contextual influences, while a case is made for prudent and feasible ways of "rational reconstruction" and for an acitve evaluation policy aimed at overcoming contextual constraints. (LMO)

This paper describes the conduct and the results of an evaluability assessment of the Adult Education Program, PL 91-230. It presents the findings on the intended program, the actual program, the plausibility of the objectives, the measurement of the objectives, and the program evaluability and options for improvement. (Author/LMO)

Describes the TESL program implemented at the University of Western Australia which emphasizes learner autonomy and meets the needs of overseas students. (HOD)

Reviews the first twenty years of the Education Commission of the States, covering aspects of organization, administration, and activities (including the operation of the National Assessment of Educational Progress from 1969 to 1983). Describes recent changes in the commission's organization and focus, and considers changing expectations for the…

Presented is a general statistical methodology for analyzing hierarchically structured data. The use of the methodology is illustrated by reexamining the "High School and Beyond" data and the controversy over the effectiveness of public and Catholic schools. (Author/RM)

Reviews "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform" and its companion document "The Nation Responds: Recent Efforts to Improve Education." Suggests these documents overemphasize educational reform for the purpose of helping American businesses cope with foreign competition, and that they lack enough solid…

Provides annotations of research studies that focus on writing (contexts, status surveys, instruction, processes, assessment, and so forth), language (processing, development, interrelationships), literature, and teacher education. (HOD)

The Illinois Inventory of Educational Progress (IIEP) writing assessment is designed to assess students' knowledge and skills on curricular benchmarks. The Rating Guide for Functional Writing is criterion-referenced. The IIEP is neither mandated by statute nor connected to graduation requirements. Randomly selected students are tested each year.…

Discussed are the assumptions which underpin research studies of the effects of pupil, school, and local education authority characteristics on student achievement in Great Britain. The purpose is to clarify the necessary limitations on knowledge imposed by various research methods and to suggest how these might be improved. (RM)

The rigorous assessment and accountability provisions in the landmark No Child Left Behind Act are challenging educators to explore new ways to improve instruction in the nation's schools. One powerful tool in this transformation is technology. To generate and share ideas on how technology can assist educators, two technology summits are convened…