Discusses the assessment movement in higher education. Notes that effective, systematic assessments require a commitment of time. (SR)

Maryland's third unobtrusive reference/information survey, which was conducted by an independent consulting firm, found that good reference service is a result of variables within each librarian's control. Training programs that were developed after previous surveys appear to have increased librarians' effectiveness. Findings of the survey are…

Discussion of recycling paper in law libraries is also applicable to other types of libraries. Results of surveys of law libraries that investigated recycling practices in 1987 and again in 1990 are reported, and suggestions for reducing the amount of paper used and reusing as much as possible are offered. (LRW)

Argues that notwithstanding recent survey findings to the contrary, knowledge of history among today's elementary and secondary school students is no less---and probably more--than that of previous generations. Compares results of earlier history surveys to support argument. (Contains 28 references.)(PKP)

The author asserts that the questions in Phi Delta Kappa's (PDK) recent poll on the issue of school vouchers were purposely designed to reflect negatively on the voucher issue. From the 1970s until 1991, PDK measured voucher support with a survey item that defined vouchers as a government-funded program allowing parents to choose among public,…

The results of a survey of language attitudes of Estonian secondary school students, ages 15 to 18, are presented, and the implications for the practice of language maintenance are discussed. The survey revealed that Estonian is valued as a token of identity but not much as a commodity in the sense of linguistic economy. It is argued that…

A common finding in the literature is that institutional structures have little to no impact on student engagement and development. I argue that theory suggests peer ability (as measured by selectivity), institutional density, the differentiation of the curriculum, and the research orientation of the institution should all affect student…

Teacher effectiveness is an issue that has received increased attention in recent years, as researchers have become aware of limitations in models that see the school as the key arena for improving pupil learning outcomes. This renewed interest makes it timely to look again at the methods used in teacher effectiveness research. This article…

To better understand ways to improve education, large longitudinal data sets are required, such as the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 which follows students through their schooling and into the labor market. In addition, data comparing the performance of state and local school systems is essential for educational accountability. The…

Discussion of library cooperation focuses on a survey that investigated cooperation among university libraries in Ghana. Library cooperation in the United Kingdom, United States, and Nigeria is described; areas of cooperation in Ghana are discussed, including interlibrary loans, cataloging, and acquisitions; and recommendations for library…

This author reports that, among high-school students who graduated in the bottom 40 percent of their classes, and whose first institutions were four-year colleges, two-thirds had not earned diplomas eight and a half years later. While four-year colleges admit and take money from hundreds of thousands of such students each year, the students who…

This article reports on a teacher book club consisting of six novice teachers who met over a 2-year period beginning with their first entry into the profession to cultivate their teacher knowledge, identity, and development in a social/supportive context. The teachers met approximately every 6 weeks over the course of the academic year (7 times…

The newly revamped Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) was administered for the first time in March 2005. Administrators, faculty, and staff in colleges and universities throughout the country were asking the same questions as students: "What was this new score of 2400 and what would it mean for them in terms of admissions, scholarships, and…

The general goal of research into LGBT issues among youth is, of course, to improve the situation of young people. Research on its own cannot attain such an objective; it is a tool in a chain of interventions. Implementation of the recommendations of research is essential for effective use of research. But, implementation is often difficult. To…

Arizona has compiled one of the most dismal records in the country for addressing children's needs. For example, at the time of this report, the state ranked last in state support of early childhood education and graduated fewer high school students than 47 other states. Hopeful signs of citizens' concern have recently been found in results of a…