Addresses two questions: (1) What is a charter school?; and (2) What does the creation of these schools mean for music teachers and music-education programs? Defines charter schools, discusses their emergence, and describes three charter-school music programs. (DSK)

Since 1965 the National Assessment of Educational Progress has conducted a nationwide survey of musical abilities, during which 150 musical exercises have been administered to about 80,000 individuals in four age groups. Members of the Music Educators National Conference studied this survey to determine implications for the music teacher in terms…

Examines the style and content of evaluating student achievement in arts education. Considers student and teacher roles. Advocates formative rather than summative evaluation. Outlines Bennett Reimer's seven modes of interaction with the arts, seeking a vocabulary of arts assessment. Cautions against standardized testing in the arts. (KM)