The kingdom of Morocco has developed an educational system that incorporates traditional customs and values of the people with the system of accountability practiced there under French colonial rule. A highly structured curriculum for each educational level is combined with a minimum competency requirement at each grade level. (Author/MH)

These are challenging times for teachers. Mixed messages, conflicting demands, and increasing needs on all fronts surround them. Each day, teachers face increasing requirements and significant pressures on their daily practice from administrators and policymakers. It is hard to be, or remain, a teacher of quality committed to one's ideals. In this…

Results of a 1994 survey of state directors of special education are presented for 47 states, 7 protectorates, and the District of Columbia. Four major issues were surveyed: the effects of activities outlined in Goals 2000 on state special education service delivery systems; efforts that states are making to develop learner goals and related…

A description and analysis of the America 2000 educational strategy emphasizes the questions of what children and youths deserve and need in terms of education, and what the process of taking children and youth seriously involves in practice for teachers, administrators, parents, and others. After stressing that America 2000 is a national, rather…

This paper examines gifted education in the context of current educational reform efforts. It offers a rationale for the differentiated education of gifted students based on American values and equitable allocation of educational resources. Examples are offered of curriculum content modification for math, science, language arts, and social studies…

School restructuring reforms have placed an increased emphasis on student outcomes as the primary qualitative measure of education systems. The Texas public school accountability system focuses attention on performance measured by standardized test scores (the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test), dropout rates, and attendance rates and…

The measurement dilemmas involved in assessing the national educational goals established by the President and governors at the 1989 education summit are discussed. The first and most important choice is what to assess and whether to align assessment to the vision of curriculum reform or to the curriculum that students are actually experiencing.…

Proponents argue that the competition inherent in publicly funded tuition voucher programs will increase school quality and family choice, but voucher systems would be subject to the same forces that shape public schools. The efficiency and effectiveness of voucher plans must be assessed in light of those educational goals important to the…

Designed as a reference tool for use at state and local levels by administrators, teachers, and parent groups, the document consolidates research on special education, school and classroom effectiveness, and other indicators of effectiveness and quality into a consistent format. Introductory material orients users, and contextual factors…

Detailing program activities of the Specialized Services for American Indian Children and Youth Program in the Cleveland Public Schools during the final quarter and summer sessions of 1976, this report presents the following: (1) Procedures (use of a coordinator, aides, a clerk, and a full time tutor working in conjunction with a parent committee…

This statement of program priorities is approved in the late spring to guide the New York State Education Department staff in detailed preparation of requests for state fiscal aid beginning the following April 1. The wide-ranging goals in general and occupational education concern lifetime learning; basic skills; health education; understanding…

Through an analysis of the economic costs and benefits of five vocational-technical programs, it was shown that the benefits of a vocational-technical education outweigh the costs. Four programs showing greater benefits than costs were auto body (courses at two technical institutes), materials management, and electronic servicing. Clothing…

Although Japanese junior colleges differ from American junior colleges in that they are smaller, more often privately owned, have larger female enrollments, and offer a greater number of home economics and English courses, much can be learned from the Japanese accreditation system. An accreditation self-study eventually takes the form of an…

The Performance Funding Project of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to improve the current appropriations formula in Tennessee is discussed, and abstracts regarding pilot implementation of the project at four institutions are presented. The major project objective is to explore the feasibility of allocating some portion of state funds on…

A method of developing measurement instruments to assess academic achievement in proficiency-based education is presented. Materials and exercises are sequenced to correspond to major activities which must be completed in developing local assessment systems. The exercises contained in this workshop guide have been field tested and can be followed…