More than 15 years after its publication of influential national standards in mathematics, a leading professional organization has unveiled new and more focused guidelines that describe the crucial skills and content students should master in that subject in elementary and middle school. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics released…

This is the first part of a two-part position paper, updating an 1986 position statement, developed by the Illinois Art Education Association for the elementary, middle-level, and secondary schools in the state of Illinois. Part 1, the "Introductory Statement," highlights the contemporary context of educational reform as an opportunity…

Discusses curriculum development in New Zealand from educational, social, political, and historical perspectives. Describes and critiques the development process. Contains 70 references. (DDR)

Debates the strengths and limitations of standards-based science education reform in the United States. Examines California science content standards and critiques it and the ways that such standards narrowly frame science education for the state's teachers and students. Suggests awareness of the challenges in using standards to achieve education…

Within the next decade, national standards describing essential outcomes in various school subjects could become the glue holding together curriculum frameworks and guides, textbook adoption, staff development, and student assessment. This article discusses confusion over definitions and intentions, raises questions about delivery and assessment…

Cautions that Year 3 and Year 5 Literacy Benchmarks, which set minimum literacy and numeracy standards for all Australian students, can measure but cannot transform student outcomes. Calls upon English professionals to put forth constructive suggestions for effective teaching methods that will enable students to reach the required goals. (NH)

Argues that the English/Language Arts Standards document is a powerful tool for guiding discussion about the connection between evaluation and learning that is applicable across a wide spectrum, including policymaking, curriculum development, and classroom practice. Argues that critically examining issues like portfolio use in conjunction with the…

Summarizes the creation and results of the 1997 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Arts Assessment Report Card. Discusses the creation and the many improvements made to the NAEP Assessment, particularly the Arts Assessment. Discusses the impact of the assessment. (SC)

In response to changes with content and curricula, and to enable future teachers to be successful, the author has created a very basic guide to creating a quality unit. It is simple in nature so as to allow for numerous artworks, perspectives, and styles of teaching to be incorporated within the organization of the unit. These guidelines are most…

This study provides a complete review of discussion and development leading up to the current trends in Deaf Studies curriculum development, and also analyzes existing known curriculum (or curriculum-like) materials to help inform development of an ideal standards-based Deaf Studies curriculum. The common shared arguments identified in this…

This publication is designed as a tool to assist science curriculum committees and individuals plan a science program. The guide offers methods for a local committee to use when developing the curriculum for their program. The guide embraces Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Science and the National Science Education Standards. A program…

Presents the state of science education in Scotland beginning with a historical perspective, information about education, and a brief account of developments since the 1960s. Contains 33 references. (DDR)

Traces the evolution of science teachers' understandings of the complex process of judging standards of student achievement in Queensland high schools. Contrasts the Queensland system with other systems in Australia. Contains 37 references. (DDR)

Describes the principal features of Great Britain's National Curriculum for English. Examines British educators' responses to this national curriculum mandate, paying particular attention to their criticisms, thus illuminating work in the United States in curriculum development and uncovering some of the problems in an approach that features…

Applauds the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) for maintaining its high principles in its attempt to develop national standards in English for the federal government. Suggests that NCTE acted wisely when it refused to be enticed by lucrative government contracts to bend its pedagogical principles. (TB)