During 1993, various teachers and schools in Indiana were recognized for high achievement with awards called "Bellringers," for educational efforts that truly "ring the bell." This "report card" documents the activities of the Indiana Department of Education for the 1992-1993 school year. The first section offers an…

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how graphical analyses can enhance the interpretation and understanding of multidimensional item-response theory (IRT) analyses. Conceptually many of the unidimensional IRT concepts such as item characteristic curves, information, etc., can be extended to multiple dimensions. However, as the…

This policy brief was written to provide the North Carolina State Board of Education with a research summary on the provision of rewards to high-performing school districts. A 1988 study of state accountability systems across the United States suggested that maintaining an appropriate balance between state oversight of performance and local…

Issues in the monitoring of educational quality through performance indicators are discussed in this paper. The first section discusses the management of quality in educational systems and identifies the general functions of performance indicators as quality assurance, development, and accountability. Indicator systems are discussed in the…

The process of school review currently used in Victoria (Australia) involves an internal school evaluation, a School Review Board visit and report, and a followup stage. Six months after the board had visited one high school, a retrospective view of the review process was gathered from 8 students, 9 parents, 24 teachers, and 5 administrators. As a…

The Michigan Educational Assessment Program presents an untimed, 100-question Social Studies Test (Form 65) for grade 7 students to assess social studies skills. This document contains the test booklet only. (PN)

Assesses the achievements of the University of Papua New Guinea ten years after its founding under the formative influence of Australia. Concludes that the research record of its staff is good, its teaching efforts less successful, its role as social critic almost invisible, and the value of its professional training program untested. (JT)

Discussing the definitions and perspectives regarding the notion of productivity in higher education, the author indicates that his effort has highlighted the inadequacy of our current ability to measure and analyze productivity, more specifically to determine and measure the value of the outcomes of higher education. (JT)

Suggests a six-element accountability system that is more broadly conceived than those in operation now. This system includes the community as well as educators. (Author/IRT)

This article discusses methods and benefits of soliciting parental advice with regard to the development of teacher education programs. (HMD)

High tuition charges, poor job opportunities for graduates, and the loss of the sacral image of higher education have contributed to the current crisis. Higher education can survive with business management models but, according to the author, mediocrity is the largest problem. (DE)

The Michigan Elementary Geography Test (MEGT) was completed by 1,689 fifth-grade students in 64 classrooms from 20 school districts in Michigan. This article provides representative questions from MEGT and presents data regarding student performance on these questions. (Author/RM)

In 1985, Washington State Legislature passed a law mandating that each Washington school conduct a self-study by 1990-91 and every seven years thereafter. The intent is to enhance education through school improvement. This manual illustrates a model self-study process and provides a "tool kit" of implementation aids. The first section…

Educational reform commissions and their reports can be traced back to the massive expansion of public schools during the 1890s. The reports of reform commissions over the years follow the same format: problems are identified, experts are selected to examine them, and improvement proposals are recommended. This report examines 14 national studies…