Describes an action research project on English-as-a-Second-Language literacy evaluation and assessment and presents an evaluation grid as one means of quantifying qualitative information through attentive listening and observation. The grid provides a tangible piece of a holistic approach to practitioner-based research into how learners learn and…

The article assesses the report of the Sandia National Laboratory's contentions about decline in Scholactic Aptitude Test Scores, National Assessment of Educational Progress achievement, and international assessments. The article suggests the report is generally right about steady trends but seriously flawed by several errors. (SM)

Preferences for modes of student assessment were studied for 876 Nigerian high school teachers. A majority do not favor evaluation based solely on either the final examination or continuous assessment. The most popular method was allotting 60% of the grade to the final examination and 40% to continuous assessment. (SLD)

Discusses three recent attempts to establish national science-education standards: "Project 2061: Science for All Americans"; the National Research Council's national standards for curriculum, teaching, and assessment; and the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Suggests that such reform movements could provide useful direction to local…

Describes Bellevue Community College's (Washington) use of earnings data and partnerships to respond to a regional need for qualified technology employees and to develop new high-wage programs. Identifies issues that emerged in response to a state performance-funding measure tied to professional/technical graduates' earnings. (VWC)

Explores the use of state wage data in college planning, program improvement, and educational assessment. Explains how Southwestern College, which began collecting post-college wage data to gauge its economic impact in the community, found that these data were also valuable in assessing its career programs and institutional effectiveness. (EMH)

Calls for community colleges to collaborate with state and federal agencies to develop national post-community college earnings measures and student outcomes. Asserts that changes in pre- or post-college earnings result from many factors, and that attributing these changes to a single variable may lead to inaccurate conclusions. (EMH)

Describes two tiers of accountability reporting: (1) external reporting requirements; and (2) internal management diagnostics. Contends that the locus of control for Tier 2 reporting resides within the institutions, and that community college executives should concentrate more on using these types of administrative records more effectively. (EMH)

Argues that U.S. schools are failing because they systematically suppress children's interests, values, diversity, individuality, and idiosyncratic potentials. The paper suggests that a system of educational choice and vouchers has many advantages, including a competitive environment which responds to families. Also discusses and responds to…

Asks how the "Art in America" radio programs illustrate the way educational mass media emerged from its forerunners of adult education, museums, libraries, and distance education. Discusses the precursors to the program, its production, the programs as education and as entertainment, and how listeners learned from radio. (DSK)

Suggests that dissatisfaction with traditional teaching practices is fundamentally a moral complaint: teaching students as receptacles offends our sense of human dignity. Argues that students should be treated as moral agents and explores the concept of moral agency, identifying three necessary elements: choice, vision, and an end-in-view. (DSK)

Presents results of a study of the organizational and political context of internal and external school evaluation in four European countries, focusing on evaluation methods and the role of the inspectorate. Also presents a comparative analysis of four cases of school self-evaluation at the elementary level in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands,…

Demonstrates the extent to which school-level performance in the British General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) program is underpinned by variations in the socioeconomic backgrounds of students. Concludes that uncontextualized performance statistics are flawed, and that policies for school improvement must address underlying constraints…

This study indicates dramatic increases in the number of states using data from students with disabilities on school participation, exit, and achievement in their accountability systems and in the number of states with guidelines on the use of assessment accommodations. States seem to have changed little in knowledge about student participation…

Points out areas in which aspects of assessment practice remain resistant to change: (1) evaluation of student achievement; (2) appropriate application of assessment innovation; and (3) preparation of educators in educational assessment. (SLD)