To clarify and examine conventional wisdom and stereotypes about adult literacy, this paper focuses on the approaches of individually oriented and community-oriented programs. An examination of the literature base (encompassing research reports, informal accounts, manuals and handbooks, and theoretical, philosophical, and policy articles) leads to…

The potential of research which uses the data base from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS) for affecting federal policy is discussed. Currently, social science research is rarely used as a basis for policy decisions. A reason for this is that social scientists profess interest in policy issues, yet are naive in…

Shortly after Mali gained its independence in 1962, the Ministry of Education in Mali undertook a program of educational reform. Although some educational improvements were made, there are still many unmet needs. In October 1976, a new educational policy was adopted by the government. Educational needs identified include: (1) a close link between…

Since independence from Britain in 1964, the Ministry of Education of Malawi has concentrated on developing a skilled and educated citizenry and on expanding agricultural and technical training. Secondary education was expanded and diversified during the 1960's, a university was established, and a correspondence school was set up to serve the…

This report describes Thailand's National Education Scheme which was designed to stabilize conditions resulting from frequent changes in the government during the years 1974-76. The general objectives of the scheme are: (1) to promote the appreciation of a constitutional democracy using the nation; (2) to enhance an awareness of being Thai through…

The Michigan Assessment Program was proposed and designed to provide an improved information base for research and planning. Its assumptions were that education is an important investiment in human welfare, both school and non-school inputs influence educational performance, educational services are inequitably distributed, and resources available…

This report presents detailed procedures and findings of research on Japanese high school seniors, their choice of courses, educational and career expectations and preferences, and the extent to which these attitudes conform to relationships in Japanese labor markets. Data came from a 1966 survey of 7,000 male high school seniors enrolled in…

High school is becoming the next frontier for after-school advocates. The conceptual and practical leaps from programming for elementary and middle school students to high school students are significant, with huge marketing challenges. Arguing persuasively for investments in this population requires revisiting almost every strategic decision,…

This report summarizes responses to a public opinion survey designed to reveal attitudes towards secondary education in other countries and compares these with attitudes in the United States. The survey was conducted in the United States and 11 other countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED). The other…

This collection of papers examines key failures in modern U.S. education and shows how parents, policymakers, and teachers can make changes that will raise the level of student performance. The papers were presented at a 1997 conference designed to examine how elementary and secondary school students learn and are taught in the classroom. The…

The Exemplary Schools Project was a national cooperative project that identified successful Canadian secondary schools and analyzed their practices to suggest policy implications. Five issues were examined: the meaning and recognition of success; interactions between the school and its context; the influence of school structures, processes, and…

Anecdotal and conceptual research on assessor training programs in Australia since 1990 was reviewed to determine research priorities for the next 3 years and to identify the research's implications for policymakers and practitioners concerned with training assessors for three settings: formal training, workplace training, and human resource…

This booklet, which was produced as a follow-up to the Fifth International Conference on Adult Education, examines monitoring adult learning for knowledge-based policymaking. The following are among the topics discussed in the booklet: (1) the need to reconstruct the reality of adult learning in consideration of the concepts of lifelong learning…

Asserts that the current focus on voluntary national standards has catapulted arts education into a new prominence. Discusses the background and tactics of current educational reform efforts. Concludes that, without empirical research and assessment, the proposed curricular standards will remain an educational fad. (CFR)

Summarizes research concerning the characteristics of at-risk students. Available research clearly demonstrates that the single most consistent factor characterizing at-risk students is social class. Consequently, studies investigating the impact of social class on school success are also reviewed. Research leads to specific suggestions for…