For nearly 20 years, Utah's Office of Education has been systematically monitoring the academic performance and other characteristics of Utah's students. This executive summary, an overview of the sixth major report since 1967, examines several measures describing educational quality in Utah schools. The first section covers students' achievement…

In January 1986, Chicago City-Wide College (CCWC) began to revitalize its strategic planning process, striving from the outset to achieve institutional concensus during each phase of the effort. Before the strategic planning process could be implemented, the components of a strategic planning model had to be identified. An ad hoc planning…

This conference was convened to identify the most important problems and opportunities facing science teaching in secondary schools and to suggest the most practical means of addressing them. The report highlights issues involving science and technology education which were addressed at the conference. Information is presented in three major…

The 1984-85 cost-effects study represents the third annual analysis of the components of Cleveland's Affirmative Reading Skills Plan, which offers three instructional strands--developmental (regular reading/language arts), support (additional enrichment, corrective or remedial), and compensatory (instruction for students having reading scores in…

Factors that affect the implementation of information-based improvements in college instruction and decision-making are considered, based on a conceptual scheme for comparing information-based change efforts. Based on a student outcomes project, eight brief case studies of public colleges illustrate different patterns leading to successful use of…

Focusing on pre-collegiate public education in the United States, this working paper seeks to develop a common knowledge base, design a grantmaking strategy in the field, and inform educators and other grantmakers about the interests of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The document contains six major sections covering the following: (1) a brief…

In August 1985, the Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy initiated a study of California's community college system to assess the adequacy of financial accountability in the system. Two hearings, interviews, and analyses of extensive data, yielded the following findings: (1) 25% of the community college districts had…

The Value-Added Program at Northeast Missouri State University is discussed. The value-added approach emphasizes the use of existing resources to enhance student learning, as well as the evaluation of student learning and personal development through regular assessment. To indicate the need for a value-added approach, the current crises…

Steps that states, schools, and colleges should take to prepare students to meet higher college standards are identified, with a focus on two points: developing higher and clearer college entry standards and developing statewide assessments to identify high school students who need additional preparation. Eight suggestions are offered: (1) states…

Designed to assist teachers in the improvement of science instruction at the secondary level, this third of a three part series of guidebooks of the Opportunity Systems in Science and Technology Study Series provides information and exercises on evaluating science programs and teaching. Initially a review is presented of the components of…

This document includes invited papers written for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Elementary/Secondary Education Data Redesign Project. Early in 1985, NCES began a thorough review of its data collection program. The purpose of the review was to address questions of the suitability, scope, reliability, and timeliness of…

This report provides users of data from the Second International Mathematics Study with a summary of the survey procedures used by participating countries. The introductory chapter includes definitions, cross-sectional and longitudinal components, and recommended sampling procedures. Chapter 2 presents national population definitions and sampling…

During the 1985-86 school year, an evaluation plan utilizing standardized norm-referenced test information was initiated within the Wichita Public School System in Kansas. The plan had four identifiable factors: (1) a growth measurement concept; (2) a simplified computation process; (3) a means of integration of growth measurement within user…

State legislatures and others are recommending and, in some cases, mandating reforms in education including evaluating students' ability to meet stated objectives. This "ideal" situation poses a major problem concerning instruments needed to assess process skills. In the real world, educators do not yet have nationally recognized, valid,…

Definitions, issues, and concerns in efforts to document the quality and outcomes of undergraduate education are reviewed, and the University of Arizona assessment model is summarized to illustrate a comprehensive assessment plan suitable for a research university. The Arizona model is adapted to architectural education, and the special…