This paper outlines current trends, progress, and possibilities for fostering more authentic ways to assess students' competencies and mastery of skills needed for college, work, and civic life in the 21st century. It provides an introduction to performance assessments and their value. The authors highlight efforts to develop such assessments in…

Curriculum processes in representative areas of four large Western countries are investigated. Countries involved in the study include Australia, Canada, England, and the United States, which is represented by Georgia. Core curricula in these countries are markedly similar. Data on curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation were…