Research indicates that teachers are the main influence on student achievement. However, standards and accountability related to teacher preparation, certification, and competencies are inconsistent. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education has developed a more rigorous system of standards and procedures for teacher preparation.…

Addresses issues in music education during the twentieth century. Focuses on the impact of the national standards, the working conditions and environment for music teachers, and the effects of educational policy making by politicians and the business community. States that a lesson learned is that arts educators cannot rely on outside group…

A critical problem in Japanese high school education is lack of fit between uniform curriculum and students' heterogeneous interests and abilities. This article explores policy initiatives to restructure and diversify high school education. Innovative high schools with "comprehensive" programs are emerging at a time when U.S. schools are…

Explores and interprets factors related to the burgeoning of codes, criteria, and guidelines in recent years within three kinds of context: (1) higher degree and dissertation-award processes; (2) guidelines for teachers and university lecturers; and (3) codes for researchers in the social sciences. Discusses the intentions and unforeseen…

Follows the progress of "negotiation" (a force for democratizing the curriculum) in Tasmanian English classrooms, claiming it (1) allows a fluid space where teachers and students can work together; (2) provides an alternative to direct and indirect political influence over curriculum construction; and (3) has the potential to empower…

Presents the findings from a survey in which the CEOs of the United States' independent colleges of art and design reflected on the essentials of preparing and educating art students. Includes the following topics: (1) social perceptions; (2) general and specific curriculum concerns; (3) technology; (4) national standards; and (5) high school…

According to advocate Robert J. Marzano, standards are the only policy mandate that can significantly improve student achievement. The standards identification process was clumsy, but started a national conversation about desirable subject-area knowledge requirements. Standards content should be cut by two-thirds; teacher-made tests can be…

Issues in the debate over national education standards for content and performance are examined in this journal issue. Interviews with three individuals in different areas of education were held, and each is described in narrative style by Anne Turnbaugh Lockwood. The first is with Linda Darling-Hammond, director of the National Center for…

Teaching is at the heart of education, and the single most important action the nation can take to improve schools is to strengthen teaching. A national certification system that reliably identifies teachers who meet high and rigorous standards can galvanize the entire system. In this volume, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards…

The goals and measures identified in this report provide insight to policymakers, higher education analysts, and parents and students throughout the nation. They are tools to understand the trend of nationwide standards so that California can make informed decisions about holding its postsecondary institutions accountable for the quality of…

The theme of this issue of the quarterly journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is the system of early childhood education in the United States, focusing on various challenges to making high-quality preschool education a reality for all children. The following articles are featured: (1) "Principles and…

High-stakes tests seriously threaten excellence and national standards. Unchecked, they will stifle many excellent schools and drive gifted teachers from classrooms. Bad tests, used to make high-stakes decisions, will lead to unnecessarily low standards, undesirable educational practices, shortchanged students, and underprepared citizens.…

Considers educational reform and arts education, asserting that education is at a strategic inflection point (a transition from old to new ways). Discusses the importance of student learning, the signals for the inflection point, the knowledge of students and teachers, the role of teacher education, and a framework for attending to the inflection…

Explores the development and status of earth-science education in the United States. Compares the U.S. case with those of Israel, England, and Wales. Discusses the need to share common concerns and visions between cultures and communities. Contains 45 references. (Author/WRM)

This article reflects on the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) at tertiary level, using the University of South Africa (Unisa) as a case study and the five stated goals of the NQF as the criteria for measuring the success or otherwise of the enterprise. A brief description is given of the initiatives at Unisa and…