The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) grants states more authority over their school accountability systems than did No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Hence, states have an opportunity to design improved school rating systems. Three of the most important improvements that states can make are to ensure that their accountability systems: (1)…

This dissertation uses a case-sensitive approach to examine an active travel intervention's diverse target population. It builds on a series of travel choice models, and draws key conceptual themes from Chapin's (1974) human activity model, which highlights opportunity-related and propensity-related factors associated with behaviors. The research…

Are there management tools that professionals use in business that academics have used successfully in higher education? The answer to that question is "yes", and the balanced scorecard (BSC) is one such tool. The author reports on measures that administrators chose for the BSCs of 2 educational institutions whose successes have been…

Implementation of quality indicators in the evaluation of adult education programs of 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico was examined. The study focused on development of measures and standards for the indicators and the impact of quality indicators on state accountability systems and program quality. Most states had completed…

Statewide learner competency and assessment systems in 11 states were examined. Information was gathered through telephone interviews and a review of materials on the learner competency and assessment systems being used/developed in each state. Special attention was paid to the states' activities regarding development of the following: systematic…

This report explains accreditation by contract and sets forth procedures for implementing such a contract. An accreditation contract is executed when a comprehensive, continuous, long-range plan for meeting the educational needs of students is adopted and formulated into a contract between a local board of education and the Colorado State Board of…

A Colorado school district has evolved a plan for continuous updating of curriculum that is broad in scope, involves the external environment, and integrates the efforts of citizens and educators. The first step of the external audit process involves the development of goals and an overview of a state-of-the-art program by the program manager and…

This set of quality standards for Colorado's early child care and education programs is intended to help these programs move toward quality services for all young children. It includes self-evaluation checklists designed to help programs document the state standards they have achieved, the standards they are seeking to meet, and the resources…

This handbook is intended to assist educational and other institutions to meet the requirements of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984 by developing and/or enhancing vocational assessment services for special populations throughout Colorado. The first section outlines the purposes, strategies, and outcomes of the vocational…

This set of quality standards for Colorado's early child care and education programs, developed over a 4-year period, is intended to help these programs move toward quality services for all young children. Programs using the standards and checklists will provide feedback to the Colorado Department of Education, and the standards will be updated…

This report covers the second year of work by the National Center for Research in Vocational Education in assisting states to increase their ability to evaluate programs and services for special populations. The report also provides information on changes that have occurred in the total evaluation system of the participating states since the start…

THE CAREER SELECTION EDUCATION (CSE) ACTIVITIES OF 14 SCHOOLS IN THE WESTERN STATES SMALL SCHOOLS PROJECT ARE REPORTED. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT WERE TO HELP STUDENTS IN RURAL AREAS MAKE REALISTIC CAREER SELECTIONS, DEVELOP AN AWARENESS OF REQUISITE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES IN A BROAD SPECTRUM OF CAREERS, AND DEVELOP SPECIFIC JOB ENTRY SKILLS.…

This document presents materials and guidelines for evaluating Colorado high school students' attainment of the eight state standards for consumer and family studies that pertain to teen challenges and choices. The materials presented are designed to promote and evaluate students' mastery of the following competencies: (1) examine and demonstrate…

This handbook, which is intended for K-12 teachers in Colorado, explains how to integrate academic content standards and assessments with workplace competencies and school-to-career activities. The handbook is divided into four sections. The first presents the Colorado General Workplace Competencies, which describe the skills and knowledge…

This guide is intended to provide local agricultural education tech prep programs throughout Colorado with a framework for updating their own curriculum and developing articulation with postsecondary institutions. First, a primer to standards-based education explains the role of the following items in standards-based education in agriculture: (1)…