During the fall of 1976, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) initiated a statewide study of educational needs as they related to the missions of the DPI. Part of this study, called the Statewide Assessment of Educational Needs (SWAN), was a citizens' opinion poll designed to review state-level priorities. Three topics were…

Although Japanese junior colleges differ from American junior colleges in that they are smaller, more often privately owned, have larger female enrollments, and offer a greater number of home economics and English courses, much can be learned from the Japanese accreditation system. An accreditation self-study eventually takes the form of an…

Focusing on the use of the Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT) with Project Follow Through evaluations, this report represents an extended discussion of the appropriateness of standardized tests for evaluation and policy research. First, the development of the MAT and its roots in the Army Alpha intelligence test are described in detail. The next…

Extracts from the papers and position statements presented at the National Conference on Achievement Testing and Basic Skills are provided in an attempt to capture both the diversity and the consensus among the participants. Six sessions are summarized: (1) achievement tests and basic skills: the issues and the setting--by Harold Howe II; (2)…

The paper presents an overview of moral/citizenship education (MCE) in public schools and suggests alternative approaches to MCE. The paper is presented in five major sections. Section I explains that MCE comprises moral education, moral training, citizenship education, and citizenship training. The author hypothesizes that current interest in MCE…

After an executive summary of the mission, goals, progress, problems, and needs of the Maryland community colleges, this statewide master plan describes the administrative structure and legal mandates and controls of the colleges, and outlines the college's mission and goals. Another section considers conditions, trends, and projections in the…

Results of the second year of the New Jersey Minimum Basic Skills Tests in reading and mathematics, mandated by the New Jersey Public School Education Act of 1975, are summarized. Approximately 397,000 students in grades three, six, nine, and eleven were tested. Results of the tests showed that a smaller percentage of sixth-grade students met…

A summary of 21 institutional self-studies concerning government and higher education considers the following areas: equal employment, affirmative action, and nondiscrimination; student affairs (student assistance and the Buckley Amendment); research; and safety and health. Brief excerpts from the institutional reports are presented on these issue…

The Performance Funding Project of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to improve the current appropriations formula in Tennessee is discussed, and abstracts regarding pilot implementation of the project at four institutions are presented. The major project objective is to explore the feasibility of allocating some portion of state funds on…

The survival of higher education institutions is addressed in this book. Strategies and procedures for assuring institutional vitality are outlined, based on the author's 30 years of studying and advising colleges and universities in various states of financial health. The major components of institutional vitality are enumerated, including a…

Intended for both the student and the practitioner of evaluation, this book describes the state of the practice of program evaluation. Its focus is mainly institutional. Results of evaluation studies are of secondary importance. An introductory chapter written by the editor discusses evaluation at the Office of Education from 1967 through 1973.…

The 132 research reports, surveys, studies, program descriptions, case histories, and conference papers listed in the annotated bibliography provide a ready reference tool for researchers and practitioners in the field of rural education. A compilation of Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) document resumes, most entries provide the…

Part 1 of this two-part project assessed the capacity of the state colleges and universities to prepare vocational educators and counselors skilled in vocational guidance. It provided a quantitative analysis of present and needed capacity, a parallel analysis of local district plans for vocational education, and an analysis of occupational trends…

Use of the American College Testing (ACT) Program assessment battery for the measurement of student growth at a regional state university is described. A stratified random sample of 112 seniors at Tennessee Technological University was given the residual form of the ACT Assessment battery for comparison with their pre-college ACT test performance.…

Findings in this report provide information about the strengths and weaknesses of Texas fifth and eleventh graders in economics education. The purpose of statewide assessment in Texas is reflected in the commitment of the State Board of Education to improve instruction. The measurement instrument (criterion-referenced tests emphasizing consumer…