Since educational statistics, which are relatively easy to obtain, can only attempt to measure "quality," this paper asks how quality in higher education is assessed and how educational rankings, which are defined as benchmarks or attempts to measure, contribute to this process. The paper notes that while attempts to rank institutions of…

This framework was developed using results of a 1995 business partnership survey, a survey of over 9,000 Albertans (800 responses), and discussion of recommendations by a forum of approximately 140 Albertans. The surveys and discussion focused on ways in which business and schools could work together to provide the best possible education for…

This study used the questionnaire previously developed and used by the national Richardson Study to survey Iowa school districts concerning the standards, resources, and procedures used in providing special educational services to gifted students. The study focused on comparing the largest and smallest school districts and on comparing districts…

This report provides an overview and results of a state-level summative review undertaken to examine issues affecting program leaders and planners within the mathematics divisions/departments of Florida's 28 community colleges, make recommendations for changes and funding priorities, identify areas of need, observe trends, and highlight concerns…

This volume, part of the second annual report on the educational status of schools in the state required by the New York State Legislature, presents a statistical portrait of the elementary and secondary education system for the 1988-89 academic year. In this volume, information about the public schools is given for the state as a whole, and…

In support of educational excellence and equity, the Texas Education Agency views all state public education information resources and technology as strategic assets of the education enterprise. This plan is presented in support of the goals of enhancing instruction through technology, restructuring the data processing environment for…

Educational testing is at a decisive moment, as the issue of standardized testing has become one of the most hotly debated education issues of the decade. The accuracy and relevance of standardized tests have been questioned by many researchers, evidenced in the 20-year report of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. There is general…

This paper discusses the development and theoretical premises of the Expert Science Teaching Evaluation Model (ESTEEM) as well as research into this model from 1990 through 1993. ESTEEM was developed under the aegis of the Center for Research on Educational Accountability and Teacher Evaluation (CREATE) with major goals of defining expert science…

A study was conducted of the early childhood programs in the McAllen (Texas) Independent School District. This qualitative study used data collected through observations, interviews, document analysis, questionnaires, and site visits. Current practices were described and compared to developmentally appropriate practices as defined by the National…

Progress made by southern states in meeting the need for quality in education is described, and priorities for further actions are identified. In 1981 the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) offered 25 recommendations to move the South beyond minimum levels toward quality education. Major progress was made with regard to the following:…

An assessment is provided of the progress of Maryland's Joint Coordinating Committee for Occupational Education Programs in developing a systematic procedure for the evaluation of the quality of occupational programs in Maryland. After presenting the 1976 resolution which established the joint committee, a project summary for fiscal year 1989 is…

Standardized tests often produce results that are inaccurate, inconsistent, and biased against minority, female, and low-income students. Such tests shift control and authority into the hands of the unregulated testing industry and can undermine school achievement by narrowing the curriculum, frustrating teachers, and driving students out of…

The Vision 2000 program was initiated in 1988 to review the mandate of Ontario's Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology. Five study teams and a steering committee were involved in the program. Study Team 1's task was to provide an empirical snapshot of the current college system and its external environment. At the outset of its work, Study Team…

One of the working papers in the final report of the Arizona Board of Regents' Task Force on Excellence, Efficiency and Competitiveness, this document discusses the importance of foresight (a broad based, future-oriented evaluation) for Arizona's universities. Institutions of all types must recognize varying degrees of a need to base their…

The purposes of the study were to (1) identify formulas currently used for justifying budget requests or allocating funds for operating expenses of state-supported colleges and universities; (2) provide a comparative analysis of each formula with respect to the functional budget areas recognized, the base and formula factors used, methods of…