Reviews the history of the concept of equal educational opportunity, noting the shift from a separate-but-equal input definition to an opportunity-to-learn process interpretation. Also discussed are implications of the definition of opportunity to learn for professional development and the education of African-American students. (SLD)

Focuses on the student-centered "Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning" mission for school library media programs, and the corresponding information literacy standards. Discusses examples of content-area standards; instructional roles; and three strategies for developing an integrated library media program--collaborating with…

This report presents results from a national survey, conducted in 2005, that examined the educational experiences of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students in grades 4 and 8, with particular emphasis on the integration of native language and culture into school and classroom activities. Students, teachers, and school principals all…

This report is the nation's sixth look at how its major city school systems are performing on the state assessments devised to boost standards, measure progress, provide opportunity, and ensure accountability for results. Data are presented on 66 city school systems from 38 states and the District of Columbia. The statistics are presented…

The Optional Extended Year Program (OEYP), funded by a grant from the state, provides extended learning opportunities for students in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) who are at risk of academic failure. The primary focus of an OEYP is to reduce and ultimately eliminate the need for student grade-level retention by providing additional…

This article summarizes the effects of NCLB on school districts based on four years of evaluations conducted by the Center on Education Policy as part of the most comprehensive and continuous overview being undertaken of that policy.

This paper identifies some of the major obstacles to the integration of university qualifications into New Zealand's National Qualifications Framework. Currently, New Zealand's universities are under pressure to integrate their qualifications into the Framework which employs a method of unit design that is generally more suited to trade and…

Educators must open their eyes to the intensity of the anti-public-school efforts by many politicians and business leaders. This book provides a defense against those who innocently attack schools with misinformation and those who disingenuously attack schools with disinformation. A total of 18 chapters address 18 criticisms most commonly leveled…

Implications of the six National Education Goals for African Americans and other minority groups are discussed in a paper that summarizes the status of student competencies. The question posed is why the school reform movement thus far has had such a minimal impact on overall student achievement. The focus of the reform movement of the 1980s is…

The second volume of the third annual National Education Goals Report contains profiles of the achievements of each state, the District of Columbia, and five territories toward the National Education Goals of 1990, which derived from the National Education Summit of 1989. In brief, the goals for achievement by the year 2000: (1) all children in…

An evaluation of the first year of the Carver Latin Grammar Magnet Elementary School (CLG) in Kansas City, Missouri, is reported. Students are required to sign a contract and agree to adhere to criteria regarding conduct, to maintain high levels of academic performance, and to wear uniforms. The program is evaluated in terms of enrollment goals…

Three years of implementation of the D. M. Pinkerton Latin Grammar Magnet Elementary School in Kansas City, Missouri, are evaluated in terms of enrollment and program capacity, implementation, perceptions, and achievement. Findings suggest progress toward theme-related goals, significant progress toward achievement goals, and less progress toward…

Factors contributing to declining academic performance of college students are considered, including: increased government intervention in education, declining faculty expectations and lowered standards, administrative policies, and changing student attitudes and expectations. One view is that government is largely responsible for the…

This combined discussion guide and questionnaire, intended for public or professional audiences, consists of three major sections. The first section is a narrative background description of major issues, options, and arguments for minimum competency testing: Will you test minimum competencies? What competencies will you require? How will you…

A research project was conducted at Brevard Community College, Florida, to evaluate the influence of non-punitive grading (i.e., I for incomplete and W for withdrawal) on student grade point averages (GPA's) and to determine faculty attitudes toward the factors which influence the GPA and students' eligibility for academic performance categories…