This annual Student Outcome and Achievement Report (SOAR) report presents information about how well Maryland high school graduates have done in the initial year of college. The SOAR system collects information about the college performance of new high school graduates, including remedial work needed, grades in English and mathematics courses, and…

This study aims to develop a strategic plan for Joliet Junior College (JJC) (Illinois), in order to address the needs and expectations of the college constituency. JJC is a public two-year college located 30 miles southwest of Chicago. Approximately 11,500 credit students and 17,000 non-credit students attend one of JJC's three campuses. Although…

The federal Migrant Education Program provides supplemental instruction and support services to migrant children through grants to states under Title I, Part C, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The reauthorization of Title I in 1994 contained new requirements that Title I schools help students meet new state standards developed for…

This report takes a global look at the structural changes taking place in the 72 small schools that were created from 17 comprehensive high schools in Washington State. It also discusses the challenges conversion schools face when they operate with a foot in two worlds -- trying to realize the benefits of small while, in many ways, still operating…

The Government of Alberta is committed to enhancing the well-being and educational opportunities of Aboriginal peoples in the province. As part of Ministry commitment to the Government of Alberta's Aboriginal Policy Initiative (API), a key priority is to improve First Nations, Inuit and Metis learner success. In the spring of 1999, a review of the…

The size and adequacy of the federal workforce for carrying out scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities are ongoing concerns in many policy circles. Experts both inside and outside of government have voiced fears that this workforce is aging and may soon face a dwindling labor pool, a problem that could be compounded…

In Ohio, as across the nation generally, states are challenged to serve more students, conduct more research, and train more workers with less state support. State policymakers and members of the media often question whether Ohio is over-invested in its higher education facilities. In response to these concerns, and to better understand Ohio's…

This paper investigated how the examination of student behavior, seen as techniques and their effects, has participated in the construction of citizenship in compulsory schooling in Finland. Data were gathered from "state educational discourse," including national curricula, governmental committee reports, legislative and regulatory…

The creation of publicly financed but relatively independent public charter schools may be the most vibrant force in American education today. This fastback presents findings of a national study that examined the outcomes of charter schools. Data were collected through site visits to 43 charter schools in 7 states (Arizona, California, Colorado,…

In Perth, Western Australia, summative assessment has not been a teaching tool in the teaching of religious education courses in the Catholic schools. This study investigated whether the use of formal assessment procedures in the teaching of religion had an effect on student learning outcomes. Subjects were 128 students (4 classes) in year 8 of an…

This set of policy statements is intended to provide guidance to those who evaluate and select assessments, prepare students for those assessments, administer and score the tests, and interpret and use assessment results to make decisions about students and schools. The focus is on large-scale assessments that have consequences for students and…

This guide is a useful resource for educators who would like to begin using portfolios in the classroom. The three major types of portfolios are working portfolios (collections of work in progress), display portfolios (also called showcase or best works), and assessment portfolios. These types are distinct in theory, but tend to overlap in…

This report describes and compares the inclusive assessment and accountability systems of Maryland and Kentucky, with a focus on components, scoring methods, reporting practices, data use, participation of students with disabilities, testing accommodations, and implementation considerations (including cost and training issues). Maryland and…

Ways in which middle schools can better prepare their students are presented in this report. It discusses the national pattern of underachievement in basic mathematics and science and details how schools served by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) report that almost 50 percent of their eighth-graders are below the basic level in math.…

This book answers the question of whether or not the American prep school tradition has constructive use to all American schools. This is done by identifying useful lessons in the text's three sections: community, standards, and personalization. Part 1--"Community" includes the following chapters: (1) The Vulnerability of Educational Communities;…