Achievements of 9, 13, and 17-year-old students are assessed in ten learning areas. Categories include basic skills (reading, writing, and mathematics), general subject matter (social studies, citizenship, science, and career development), and humanities and fine arts (literature, art, and music). (Author/DB)

Many school districts are offering warranties on their high school graduates' basic academic abilities; employers identifying academic skill deficiencies may return graduates to school for free retraining. The problem is how to handle "recalls" appropriately. Community benefits and criticisms of the warranty approach are discussed. A sidebar…

In June 1991, U.S. Department of Labor issued the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) Report detailing the necessary competencies and foundations required for twenty-first-century workers. Because communications skills, critical thinking, work habits, interpersonal skills, and individual responsibility are as important as…

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) office of Research and Evaluation presents Basic Skills Achievement, 1981-82 (BSA). The BSA answers the following questions: (1) How does AISD student achievement compare to student achievement nationwide? (2) How does AISD's 1981-82 student achievement compare to the achievement of students in past…

In fall 1987, a study was conducted at Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC) to examine the college's system of basic skills assessment for course placement. The study investigated the adequacy of established cut scores; placement evasion (i.e., the disregarding of a recommendation to take a developmental course) and its consequences; the use of…

Since about half of all youth neither complete high school nor opt to go to college, schools need to decide what form of occupationally specific education and training (if any) should be offered these youth. This paper first provides a literature review organized around several questions concerning: (1) the economic benefits of occupationally…

The overall purpose of the national Head Start evaluation is to assess the impact, on the children and parents being served, of: (1) the educational services component of Head Start, and (2) a new demonstration program within Head Start, Basic Educational Skills (BES). The evaluation deals with a total of 65 Head Start programs and their families.…

This evaluation research report describes a program originally implemented to meet the needs of English dominant Hispanic students in an urban junior high school. The report combines qualitative and quantitative data in order to provide an understanding of the relationship of program goals, implementation procedures, and effects and delineates…

The effects of a combined neuromotor/behavioral approach using a microcomputer mediated teaching system on the acquisition of basic motor skills by two young children (17- and 24-months-old) with severe and multiple disabilities were examined. Increased frequency and duration of target behaviors in both training and generalizing settings were…

One of the problems common to efforts to set skill standards for various occupations is deciding on the facility needed for dealing with the printed word. A similar problem faces those trying to define "workplace literacy." This workbook brings together resources to make them available to those who are trying to deal with this education issue. The…

This question-and-answer sheet defines health literacy and its importance in the United States, discussing implications for adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learners, instructors, and programs. It also offers recommendations for addressing health literacy in the ESL classroom. It focuses on what health literacy is (a constellation of…

Discusses three ways in which educators can improve the transition from school to work: (1) teach specific skills (reading, writing, mathematics, and speaking with others); (2) instill in students proper attitudes about work; and (3) provide more information about jobs as well as actual work experience to students. (CT)

A restatement of the theory of reading developed by the author over the years, a defense of a whole-language comprehension-centered approach to teaching, and an attack on the back-to-basics movement. (DD)

Guidance counselors should be authorized to place at-risk learners in nonconventional educational programs to help them acquire the basic skills for functioning productively in society. Counselors must emphasize the remedial individual and guide educators away from the acceptance of failure for 25-35 percent of their students. (MLH)

Improving a school's Q4C quotient (quality control, customer commitment, and communications) during election planning hinges on district mission, a culture of high expectations, basic skills mastery, commitment to customers, continuous feedback, healthy working relationships, broad community involvement, high- level strategic planning and…