Explores Brent Wilson's report "The Quiet Evolution: Changing the Face of Arts Education," focusing on Wilson's reformulation of discipline-based art education and the methodology of the evaluation. Examines the findings and refers to "The Quiet Evolution Executive Summary." (CMK)

Summarizes what High/Scope discovered to be the critical characteristics of a comprehensive and valid measure of early childhood program quality. Provides suggestions for how the tool can be used, and highlights with examples. Asserts that the guidelines effectively assess efforts of child development, staff development, and soundness of…

Studies French children who had diverse day care experiences to determine whether day care is a risk factor in socio-emotional development. Finds that early day care is associated with increased social competence and not associated with behavioral problems; contradicts a similar U.S. study. Suggests difference may be due to poorer quality U.S. day…

Describes the work of Curriculum Services Canada (CSC), a pan-Canadian standards agency that evaluates learning resources. Discusses the CSC process of evaluating conventional classroom resources, the extension of the evaluation process to new electronic learning resources, evaluation criteria used, and dissemination of results and training to…

A four-year investigation of 200 British children with language impairments found that they performed all of the British National Curriculum's Key Stage 2 assessments poorly. After full-time placement in language units at 7, 171 of the children were found to continue education in a variety of placements with provision for special education needs…

Provides guidelines to make grades a better assessment of learning. Argues that, for any assessment task to be fair, its content, context, and performance expectations should (1) reflect knowledge appropriate to all students; (2) tap knowledge that all students have had time to acquire in the class; and (3) and be as free as possible of cultural,…

Discusses an investigation into the process of intercultural learning in an international school. Reports that cultural dissonance among students, between students and teachers, and in relation to the school culture, seemed to be the catalyst by which intercultural learning took place. Describes Hofstede's study of national cultural dimensions in…

This article briefly reviews the literature on the efficacy of both differential placements and inclusion for students with disabilities. It urges better coordination in research evaluating school programs and those evaluating post-school outcomes. It also urges agreed-on definitions of service models and standards for identification and placement…

Offers answers to four common questions concerning the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in order to assist music teachers in responding to questions asked by representatives of the press, administrators, parents, and other community members. Summarizes the key points that should be emphasized in responding to NAEP. (CMK)

Describes the use of cooperative learning, classroom assessment, and active learning in an undergraduate organic chemistry course sequence. Contains over 20 references. (WRM)

Reports on the efforts of one developmental education program to seek faculty input regarding the provision of services. Provides a look at faculty questionnaire results, and presents recommendations for expanding the use of the program, including publicity, courses and adjunct seminars, workshops, and classroom presentations, group and individual…

This study assessed the impact of training on the knowledge and confidence of over 80 teachers in decision making regarding participation and accommodation for students with disabilities in large-scale assessments. After training teachers expressed high confidence in their ability to make such decisions and a stronger relationship was found among…

This article examines the legal requirements of assessing students with disabilities, especially students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). It reviews assessment legislation and litigation in special education and explains specific requirements for assessing students with EBD. The article also examines school districts' obligations…

Administrative data from North Carolina are used to explore the extent to which that state's relatively sophisticated school-based accountability system has exacerbated the challenges that schools serving low-performing students face in retaining and attracting high-quality teachers. Most clear are the adverse effects on retention rates, and hence…

The U.S. Department of Education's first-ever evaluation of how states are meeting requirements for English-language learners under the federal No Child Left Behind Act can be looked at two ways. One view of the report, which was released to Congress on March 15, 2005, is that states have made great strides in laying the groundwork for schools to…