This report describes an evaluation of charter schools in Arizona. Eighty-two charter schools representing the 137 charter-school holders in the state participated in the study. The schools were selected to be representative of all state charter schools with regard to location, population density, grade level, and sponsoring agency. A total of 303…

This report seeks to further the debate about the overall reform impact of Colorado's charter schools. It focuses on the characteristics and performance of the first 32 charter schools in the state, ones that have been operating for at least 2 years as of the end of the 1997-98 school year. The document identifies promising trends: the performance…

Since 1973, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has gathered information about levels of student proficiency in mathematics. These assessments are reported by NAEP periodically and present information on the strengths and weaknesses in students' mathematical understanding and their ability to apply that understanding in problem…

The Student Achievement Mode (SAM) gives teachers a system for collecting and analyzing data in order to increase student achievement in classrooms and schools. Developed in 1 school, the model is currently used in 63 elementary and 8 secondary schools in a large school district in Florida. The purpose of SAM is to increase student achievement,…

Classroom assessment is how teachers find out how well students are learning. It is important because teachers need a lot of information for the decisions they have to make. It can take many forms, such as paper and pencil assessments, performance assessments, conversations, or observations. Classroom assessments are built on clear goals and…

An instrument to be used by students in evaluating faculty was developed with the major focus being 5 conceptualized interpretations of scales (factors) culled from other research on faculty evaluation (evaluation, presentation, preparation, personality, intellect). This instrument can provide information to instructors for the improvement of…

Results of a checklist to determine teacher needs and interests in elementary social studies programs are used to plan in-service workshops. (Author/KM)

The effective school's perspective for evaluating educational programs is not a scientific but rhetorical reform model. Definition of effective schooling must include school-wide and continuing achievement gains. Effective schooling research is geared toward educational policy. Effective schooling research should instruct administrators and…

Twenty years after the Supreme Court's decision in "Abington v. Schempp," the public still needs help to understand the proper relationship between religion and public education. The "Schempp" case suggests guidelines; for example, certified school personnel should make decisions about the study of religion and such study…

Argues for a student assessment based on the goals of the course. In this way, the assessment is democratic, resulting from a very clear understanding on everyone's part of what has to be done to obtain a satisfactory assessment. (HOD)

Recommendations from the Wirtz/Lapointe report, "Measuring The Quality of Education" (ED 213 769), which evaluates National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), are presented. Six educators respond to the concern that NAEP's reports and material are not widely known or as useful to educators as they should be. (CM)

Findings on alternative procedures for evaluating measures of achievement in individual data packages at the National Assessment of Educational Progress are presented with their methodological implications. The need for secondary analysts to be aware of the organization of the data, and positive and negative features are discussed. (Author/CM)

Portrays deschooling philosophy as a broad conceptual educational approach encouraging more flexibility, creativity, self-reliance, and freedom of choice in learning. Limitations concern pedantic, pedagogic and nonpedagogic functions, finances, socialization, peer interaction, occupation, and social placement. Encourages proponents to generate a…

Describes and assesses the employment problems (unemployment and underemployment) of political science Ph.D.s since the late 1960s. Concludes that, although political scientists have shown relatively great awareness of the worsening labor market, they continue to seek advanced degrees and academic positions. (Author/DB)

In three brief papers, James Ramer provides a review of the original proposal, Russell E. Bidlack describes the Conants' visit to the University of Michigan library school, and Richard L. Darling compares the final report and research methodology with the original proposal. (RAA)