A group of defenses of qualitative evaluation methods is examined, based on a hard relativistic interpretation of the work of Thomas Kuhn. A promising defense of qualitative evaluation may be found in a soft-relativist interpretation of Kuhn's analysis of the nature of scientific discovery. (Author/LMO)

The Secondary School Recognition Program was developed to select outstanding secondary schools. This committee found that the schools chosen for excellence in education shared several attributes including high community support and involvement. (DF)

Institutional accountability in higher education and accountability based on measuring "objective" outcomes are described. Assessment, whether it can be performed objectively, and what effects external accountability pressures will have on the practices of higher education are discussed. (MLW)

Reviews the various determinants of educational quality cited in the two-year college literature and the methodologies designed and used to measure institutional and program quality. (AYC)

The program evaluation process at the University of Houston, involving self-studies by academic departments and review by outside evaluation teams, is described. The process considers educational goals and objectives, as well as the quality of students, faculty, and facilities. (PGD)

Problems encountered during the implementation of a statewide educational accountability plan in Mississippi are typical of those reported in the literature. This article reviews the development of the plan, the direction of implementation process has taken, and proposals for the future. (PGD)

The status of mathematics assessment in Canada is described by province within region. A table provides an overview of the testing programs. Differences and similarities among the programs are noted, but results are not included. (MNS)

Argues against the inclusion of a writing sample as part of the GED examination. (AEA)

Students of varying achievement levels were tested to determine the relationship between proofreading standardized test and written spelling test scores and to find if significant differences exist between mean scores of the two tests. Proofreading tests seem to be justified when information on spelling ability in general is desired. (Author/DF)

This state survey analyzed the status of environmental education, future plans, and needs for implementing or improving environmental education. The results indicated that 69 percent of the districts did not require environmental education and 36 percent did not include it all. (MR)

States that standardized tests and statistical information, as evaluated by district offices, state departments of education, or federal agencies, cannot provide an objective measure of educational quality. Education--as opposed to rote performance--is contingent upon good teaching, which is best evaluated through direct observation by…

Discusses the situation in Florida where districts must report the results of program evaluations made by the state department of education and gives suggestions for the way in which these scores should be made public. (IRT)

State legislatures have demanded hard figures on what their dollars are producing in the schools. Today, 43 states have some sort of assessment program. (Author/MLF)

The current and potential impact of television as an educational instrument is examined. Excellence and problems in both public and commercial broadcasting are cited. (LBH)