This guide was developed to empower individuals and organizations to solve social and educational problems. It is intended for use by anyone interested in leading groups in developing programs to improve education. The principles and methods that it contains are based on psychological theory and research, and it is intended to stimulate effective…

This report highlights and summarizes accountability activities and initiatives submitted by Illinois's 48 community colleges in their Accountability/Program Review Reports. This report has three primary sections: (1) Accountability Special Focus Area, which describes college priorities, performance-based incentives--district-based goal, and…

This brochure is intended to help teachers and parents prepare students for the North Carolina Open-Ended Assessments (in reading and mathematics) given at grades 4 and 8. The brochure states that teachers in grades 2-5 can use the information to prepare students for the open-ended assessments. This particular brochure focuses primarily on the…

Louisiana Educational Assessment Program for the 21st Century (LEAP 21) is an integral part of the Louisiana school and district accountability system passed by the state legislature and signed into law in 1997. In March 2004, students in grade 8 took LEAP 21 English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies tests. This document…

Suggestions for adapting NAEP procedures for local use are based on the assumptions that instructional decisions can be improved through systematic gathering of data and that every student is not tested. (Author/KM) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Procedures (Utilization).

Although a general description of NAEP as well as some of its reports are presented, the purpose of this article is to emphasize the hopes that the work of NCSS will bring about a better understanding of NAEP by social studies and citizenship educators. (Author) Primary type of information provided by report: Program Description.

Highlights a recently reported national survey of what young Americans (ages 9-35) know and understand about their constitutional rights, the political process, the role of government and basic democratic principles. Findings indicate that many Americans are unfamiliar with the political functionings of the country or their rights guaranteed under…

Stresses that defective teaching procedures must be recognized, isolated, and eradicated and suggests several ways teachers can evaluate their teaching. (TO)

Describes a problem-focused audit used to measure the impact of a staff development offering on pain relief. Concludes that the audit provided concrete evidence that the class on pain did influence nursing practice and affected patients directly. (NRJ)

The utility of the federally funded National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is often unclear, and critics have claimed that NAEP is not used. This paper summarizes an exploratory study of evidence against these claims, including that data are most useful to audiences with a national perspective. (Author/CM)

Whereas some self-assessment activities are based on a limiting view of the self, other self-assessment activities may be useful in helping students develop. (HOD)

A state-by-state analysis of data obtained from early childhood consultants reveals vast differences in educational opportunities for young children. (MP)

Discusses why the second national music assessment conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress found a slight decline in student music knowledge. Strengths and weaknesses of the assessment are described. (AM)

The purpose of this article is to describe ways in which information based on environmental perceptions can form the basis for facilitating changes in classroom environments. The method involved reviewing a diverse range of related literature and providing data on various profiles which might be useful for guiding environmental improvement.…

Suggests reasons why the local level is a useful point to study educational reform: it is where reform is actually implemented, is the major point of interaction between all actors concerned in any change in the educational system, allows more room for flexibility and innovation, and facilitates monitoring and evaluation. (Author/KC)