Presents observations on the state of democracy, race, politics, and education in South Africa based on a recent trip to that country. Discusses the material and historical realities of race, the teaching of history, possibilities for inclusive histories, and postcolonial politics. (DSK)

Argues that the heterogeneity of teacher training in Switzerland provides a quasi-experimental situation, and evaluates teacher training within the framework of a national research program concerning the efficiency of educational systems. Points to resulting questions about the selection and standard of contents in teacher training. (DSK)

Argues that understanding the crisis of youth must be central to any notion of literacy, pedagogy, and cultural politics. Offers suggestions for the political and pedagogical roles educators might play in addressing the crisis of youth as part of the broader crisis of public life. (NH)

Examines the relationship between institutional spending patterns and performance funding standards at the 14 public community colleges in Tennessee. Analyses reveal a relationship between expenditure categories and performance standard scores, with higher scoring colleges spending a greater portion of funds on academic support and instruction…

Offers an "outsider's perspective" on social education by someone who worked in other subfields of education before entering social studies. Discusses problems in social education, for example, the paucity of research in the field and the lack of perceived importance of social education. (DSK)

Reports on the development and validation of a universal inventory that equips health professionals and medical educators with a diagnostic tool to measure the state of their school's teaching and learning climate. Contains 25 references. (DDR)

Describes approaches for evaluating the effectiveness of a school's music program. Discusses the expertise-oriented approach (relies heavily on professional judgment of committee members), objectives-oriented approach (examines curricular goals and outcomes), and naturalistic approach (uses qualitative inquiry techniques). Includes a list of…

Analyzes whether school-based management (a corporate business emphasis) in Chicago public high schools improved performance between 1989 and 1994. Malmquist productivity index results show very little improvement in productivity (measured in test scores, truancy, and graduation rates). Second-stage regression results are slightly more positive.…

Discussion of the assessment of students with disabilities receiving services in inclusive settings focuses on assessing for updating the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and for guiding instruction. It considers the use of norm-referenced assessment, informal assessment, assessment for instruction, teacher observation and listening skills,…

This article discusses some of the limitations of current educational assessment and how application of universal design for learning (UDL) concepts can improve assessment accuracy and its applicability to instruction. Benefits of UDL are described and include allowing for multiple means of representation and expression, and multiple means of…

A study investigated the kinds of instructional and assessment accommodations received by 280 students with disabilities and the extent to which instructional accommodations match assessment accommodations. Most students who had Individualized Education Programs in specific content areas received instructional accommodations in those areas.…

Teacher educators and policy makers must provide teachers with the tools, processes, and supports to help students across the socioeconomic spectrum achieve standards according to their multiple intelligences while avoiding undermining influences of reductionism, superficiality, inequity, and pseudo-change. Seven elements for successful reform…

A detailed multisite evaluation of instructional software, the ConStatS package, designed to help students conceptualize introductory probability and statistics, yielded patterns of error on several assessment items. Results from 739 college students demonstrated 10 misconceptions that may be among the most difficult concepts to teach. (SLD)

Defines four essential elements of a system of educational standards: (1) common, rigorous student achievement standards; (2) state-administered assessments; (3) explicit rewards for achievement; and (4) opportunity to reach the standards. Practices to ensure these conditions and enact a system based on these elements are discussed. (SLD)

Asserts that graduation and placement rates based on surveys as forms of institutional assessment are no longer enough. Addresses five legitimate, critical concerns about outcomes reporting. Discusses the use of unemployment insurance data to document and report on institutional and program effectiveness by tracking students' placement and…