A description of the accreditation process, an analysis of developments that have affected accrediting agencies, and evidence of their productive response are provided in this introductory paper. Issues regarding evaluation of nontraditional education are also addressed. (Author/LBH)

Stresses the concern for individual standards which pervades the Plowden report. Suggests that some of the report's professional advice, regarding inservice education, inspection and diagnostic testing, is more timely and relevant now than when it was first offered. (Editor/RK)

A British review process for policy-oriented research is described, focusing on the problems of keeping academic criteria and policy relevance distinct in the process. The use of multiple evaluative frameworks for policy-related research is advocated. (MSE)

A survey was made of 99 students at a large university to determine how prevalent 10 grading practices were and how these practices were evaluated by students. Recommendations to improve communication of grading standards to students are offered based upon survey results. (Author/MT)

It is accepted that a secondary school graduate should be able to communicate, i.e. to be competent in the language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. However, most state departments of elementary and secondary education fail to identify the skill of listening. Although federal recognition of listening as a language skill came in…

This portfolio is a compendium of policies and procedures of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that address the responsibilities of the Commission and its member institutions. It provides general accreditation policies, as well as those that refer specifically to the self-study and peer review process, the programs and services…

Discusses attacks made on today's grading system and the rationale for a shift to more egalitarian academic standards in student evaluation. Indicates that the traditional issues still remain unsolved at least for the present. (CC)

A study attempted to identify criteria used to assess faculty development programs in community colleges and to describe the extent to which these colleges believed the evaluation standards were being met. Extensive conclusions are drawn and recommendations are made. The appendix contains the survey questionnaire. (JN)

Presents an argument for formal accrediting standards. Defines the purposes of accreditation and the term "standard." Describes the application of and impact of using standards. Includes excerpts from standards developed by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges regarding undergraduate programs, the faculty's role in academic…

Discusses the six goals and some of the ramifications of the "Standards for the Assessment of Reading and Writing," developed by the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association Joint Task Force on Assessment. (RS)

Nebraska districts use different strategies for measuring student performance on the state's content standards. District assessments differ in type and technical quality. Six quality criteria were endorsed by the state. These criteria cover content and curricular validity, fairness, and appropriateness of score interpretations. District assessment…

Whatever has happened to using teacher observation as an approach to assess student achievement? Presently, the emphasis is upon state mandated testing to ascertain student progress. Much is written in educational journals about having students achieve No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal and state standards, signed into law in 2002. Much drill is…

To support K-12 students with significant disabilities and get an accurate picture of their skills and knowledge, schools need to implement effective alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS). This is the guidebook every team should have--not only to develop successful AA-AAS linked with grade-level content standards,…

Every public university is engaged now in serious and ongoing accountability appraisal with significant time and resources dedicated to the task. The academy's commitment to accountability is real. Focusing on accountability for undergraduate education, one of several important functions of public universities satisfies a need, but it should not…

In its effort to simplify the accreditation process, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education has limited the amount of documentation that a program can use to support its efforts for accreditation. With this "no frills" approach, the rubrics or scoring guides that accompany assessments provide critical information about the…