This report summarizes preliminary and exploratory research conducted by the Council of the Great City Schools and the American Institutes for Research on urban school systems participating in the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The study is one of the first large-scale analyses…

An education gap between white students and their black and Hispanic peers is something to which most Americans have become accustomed. But this racial division of education--and hence of prospects for the future--is nothing less than tragic. The good news is that the racial divide in learning is a problem that can be fixed. Of course, it can only…

Recent scores on state tests show that middle grades students have made some progress in meeting their state's academic standards over the last half-decade. Yet a closer look at state standards indicates that too many Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states have set them too low. Quite a few states have taken steps to improve their…

Results of a program review of intercollegiate athletics in the State University System of Florida are presented. The study covered program history, mission and purpose, compliance with regulations, budgetary and financial matters, organization, accountability, student-life issues, and registration/class-scheduling/grading. The nine institutions…

In 2003, the last state university undergraduate technology education program in Florida closed its doors due to low enrollments and a new focus on graduate studies. This closing and the continued need for 165 certified technology education teachers to fill open positions each year in Florida created a need for St Petersburg College (SPC) to…

Since 1998, Florida's harsh A+ Program has graded each public school. School leaders have responded by setting urgent goals, engaging school personnel, using school achievement data, strengthening professional development, aligning curricula, increasing time for academics, choosing supportive instructional materials, building interdisciplinary…

This paper is designed to assist school district personnel in implementing revised Florida regulations concerning student performance standards and graduation requirements for Special Diplomas for certain exceptional students. The revised regulations call for provision of a diploma option based upon demonstrated employment and community…

Florida's 113 charter schools serve 18,255 students and provide opportunities for education innovation and school choice. Many serve at-risk and low-income students. Schools report positive student progress but need stronger accountability. Two-thirds of charter schools are not subject to Florida's A+ school accountability system because they…

An earlier report presented the results of an inverse factor study of interrelationships among students over a variety of measures associated with motivation to study in college. Seven of the 10 motivational factors revealed in that study were related to academic criteria that are considered to be of practical importance in the admissions process.…

With reports that some of the nation's finest universities have been handing out A's like lollipops at Halloween, the lowering of standards in higher education has become a hot topic. But grading standards in primary and secondary education have received remarkably less attention. There are two major questions related to grading standards. First,…

This practicum examines the phenomenon of academic grade inflation which has occurred in recent years in many two- and four-year institutions of higher education. After a review of the literature, possible grade inflation at Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is examined. The research clearly indicates that very significant…

The scheduled raising of the passing grade on Florida's College Level Academic Skills Test is discussed. The critics say the higher passing standard would have a severe impact on otherwise-qualified minority students and on those for whom English is not the native tongue. (MLW)

Now that all 50 states and the District of Columbia are building statewide longitudinal data systems, the next step is to ensure that the information in these systems is used to improve student learning. The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) has identified 10 actions that states can take to ensure that the right data are available and accessible and…

This test administration plan sets forth the terms and conditions governing the administration of the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST), an instrument designed to measure the achievement of the communication and computation skills expected of all students by the time they complete their sophomore year. CLAST scores are required of all…

The purpose of this document is to focus on the problem of the appropriate and efficient evaluation of innovative, nontraditional institutions of higher education. The applicability of the traditional standards of an academic self-study to the Walden experience is described and assessed. Information was gathered on the Walden alumni, the…