This is a collection of case studies on the implementation of institutional assessment and evaluation of student outcomes in higher education. The cases are drawn from eleven institutions. Research universities and four-year colleges included were: Clemson University (South Carolina), State University of New York (Albany), University of Kentucky…

Milwaukee's Highland Community school was opened in 1968 as an independent school (and is still funded mostly by donations) to provide a quality Montessori education and nurturing environment for economically and culturally diverse groups of families on the city's economically depressed Near West Side. Governed by a 9-member parent board of…

This book presents 14 papers which discuss contemporary issues of curriculum change and instructional effectiveness in higher education primarily from a British perspective. Papers address curriculum purpose, curriculum delivery, and curriculum impact on the wider society. In addition, the book covers experiential learning, skills and training,…

School board members are entrusted by taxpayers to establish and maintain quality in their school systems. Unfortunately, most board members lack the experience or training necessary to face a wide range of new and daunting challenges. This book was designed to help school administrators and board members understand the principles of Total Quality…

An 8-year study of academic achievement, student performance, and education costs in rural northeastern Brazil investigated the presumption that students automatically perform better when more school resources are provided. Two main topics were examined: the success of EDURURAL, an educational intervention project in rural Brazil sponsored by the…

Noting that a high-quality preschool program is one that promotes learning through rich play experiences, this book gives parents information needed to select the right preschool for their children. Chapter 1, "Thinking about Preschool," discusses questions parents ask, practical considerations, beginning the search, and the screening phone call.…

Noting that the availability of affordable, quality child care continues to be a major concern of parents, especially mothers, this book offers practical information for solving problems and making decisions about day care. Chapter 1 examines the problem of working families and day care. Chapter 2 explains why the need for child care has increased…

In 1993, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) sponsored five activities designed to build the capacity of community colleges to respond to workforce development needs of employers and employees through contract training services. Three of these activities targeted community college-based business/industry liaisons, who provide a…

The decline in the quality of American higher education over the past several decades and the ramifications of this phenomena are discussed in this book. It is suggested that in responding to modern egalitarianism and the need to attract students, colleges and universities have initiated innovative programs, noncampuses, and nontraditional degrees…

Accountability has become an integral part of the accreditation process in higher education. The function has traditionally been performed by private agencies with the purpose of establishing common standards among colleges and universities. The function has recently expanded to include a concern for the welfare of society, and this has increased…

This collection of papers focuses on the economic aspects of education as follows: (1) "Introduction" (David H. Monk, Margaret Wang, and Herbert J. Walberg); (2) "Tax Revolts and School Performance" (Thomas Downes and David Figlio); (3) "State Aid and Education Outcomes" (Sheila E. Murray); (4) "The Interface…

Business leaders created New American Schools (NAS) to develop "break-the-mold" designs for schools serving grades K-12. The notion of a design was meant to convey a coherent and comprehensive set of school-level practices that unified a school behind a goal of high performance by all students. These practices would cover all grades, all students…

This book explores some of the underlying issues related to the changes taking place in British higher education. Individual chapters focus on the development of higher education in Britain, the various purposes it serves, how to assess it, and how to improve delivery. Part 1 addresses the dilemmas of mass higher education, and traces the…

This book reports on an international study of quality in teaching in elementary and secondary schools and on policies to promote quality teaching in 11 countries. The study on which the book is based called on case studies by experts from 11 countries on policies to improve the quality of teaching, seminars for teachers to discuss the definition…

Recognizing the importance of providing high-quality preschool education for helping to ensure children's future educational success, this document presents guidelines for what constitutes high-quality programming across a broad spectrum of curriculum and practice for California preschools, taking into account the state's move toward higher…