About half the states in the U.S., either by legislative or administrative action, have moved toward the imposition of statewide performance standards in their elementary and secondary schools. Typically these standards pertain to the basic skills--reading, mathematical computation, and written and oral expression. Almost all of these programs…

Turning Points helps middle schools create challenging, caring, and equitable learning communities that meet the needs of young adolescents as they reach the "turning point" between childhood and adulthood. Based on more than a decade of research and experience, this comprehensive school reform model focuses on improving student learning through…

North Carolina first established a Standard Course of Study in 1898. The "North Carolina Standard Course of Study" provides every content area a set of competencies for each grade and high school course. Its intent is to ensure rigorous student academic performance standards that are uniform across the state. It includes the subject or…

This document presents materials that were developed for a presentation explaining how the Gordon Cooper Technology Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma, obtained state certification for the geometry and trigonometry program that is embedded in its residential and commercial construction program and enables its students to receive high school geometry or…

"Chronicle of Higher Education" presents an abundant source of news and information for college and university faculty members and administrators. This February 11, 2005 issue of "Chronicle of Higher Education" includes the following articles: (1) "A Giant Eye on the Stars" (Lloyd, Marion); (2) "Taiwanese…

This document contains all Impartial Hearing Officer Decisions, State Level Review Decisions, and Complaint Findings issued in Colorado in 1993 and is intended as a resource tool for assuring the provision of a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities. The full text of each decision or finding is preceded by a case summary…

This handbook, designed for limited-English-proficient students in Alberta (Canada) schools, provides general information on schools and curricula, high school graduation requirements, and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learning. It describes the overall organization of school divisions and age-grade placement, the school year schedule,…

This curriculum guide is intended to provide vocational teachers, supervisors, administrators, and counselors with a suggested model for organizing a course in electromechanical technology. Discussed first are the philosophy, purpose, and objectives of the course. Second, course admissions and recruitment procedures are outlined. Included in the…

Minimim standards and basic skills assessment activities at the federal, state, and local school district level, as of September 1977, are summarized, indicating the broad range and variety that exists nationwide. Minimal competency testing is mandated by law in eleven states: California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New…

This publication contains descriptions of "outstanding practices" in high schools that had the most success in improving student performance by doing the best job of implementing one particular High Schools That Work key practice. The 33 efforts are organized according to which of these 10 key practices they reflect: high expectations…

The substance and impact of state-level reforms related to student standards are presented by: (1) providing information on the currrent state of educational reforms aimed at raising student standards; (2) summarizing research designed to identify linkages between higher standards and student outcomes; (3) exploring the strength of relationships…

A handbook to assist school district personnel in designing special instructional programs for limited English proficient (LEP) students considers the variety of circumstances in individual school districts by providing program models appropriate for one or many language minority students. The first section provides background information on the…

This report and its appendixes are the products of a 50-state study of current legal standards for public elementary and secondary education and represent a summary and comparative analysis of the law as it exists in the states today. State education policy-makers--state legislators and staff of legislative reference services, department of…

This guide, which is intended for classroom teachers, supervisors, and administrators throughout Alabama, contains the minimum required content (core program) for public school instruction in family and consumer sciences education in grades 7-12. Presented first are the following: introduction examining the objectives/delivery of family and…

As an alternative to waiving foreign language requirements for students with learning disabilities or learning problems, a policy of inclusion in foreign language programs is proposed, based on research suggesting that alternative language teaching methods can be effective with these populations. The rationale for such a policy and the theoretical…