Discusses the significance of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act for theater and other arts educators. Presents comments of several theater education teachers, leaders, and arts advocates regarding the enactment of Goals 2000. (RS)

Demoralized by disappearing dollars and omission of the arts from national education goals, the arts education community has formed a consortium of professional organizations to write standards and address related issues, such as balance among the arts and multicultural and technological concerns. To anchor the arts firmly in the curriculum, they…

One reason for U.S. students' poor rankings on national and international tests is the lack of uniform, uniformly high standards for all students. State standards are not useful if they are vague, uninterpretable, and unmeasurable, which occurs in many states. Legislators and citizens must insist that education departments, teacher organizations,…

Explores areas of agreement and disagreement in five articles on mathematics and science standards, highlighting active learning, teaching for understanding, and constructivism. The article notes that there is more than one right answer, but disagreement persists over applications, amateur problem solving, and the risk of junk math and science.…

It is described how mathematics instruction is addressed in an early childhood classroom and how it reflects state and national mathematics standards. Mathematics emerges during natural interactions among children and is often spontaneous, arising from the meaningful contextual base of the activity.

The Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT) will help school districts conduct a clear, complete, and consistent analysis of written physical education curricula, based upon national physical education standards. The PECAT is customizable to include local standards. The results from the analysis can help school districts enhance…

For nearly 20 years the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) has been conducting the Shape of the Nation Report every few years to summarize information for the profession and the public regarding the status of physical education in the American educational system. The preeminent national authority on physical education…

Career development objectives, as codified in the American School Counselor Association's National Standards, can be overshadowed by the growing emphasis on academic standards, testing, and accountability so thematic of national educational and public policy initiatives. The career fair vehicle, which proactively employs the wisdom of social…

Since the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, education policy makers have focused on students at the lower end of the achievement spectrum, specifically those struggling to meet standards, particularly in reading and mathematics. However, those who are considered gifted have been increasingly underserved, at the expense of high ability…

This study focused on two middle schools in the central US who participated in collaborative, sustained, whole-school professional development in implementing inquiry as part of National Science Education Standards, or standards-based instructional practices. Participants were involved in their second year of the professional development…

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…

SERVE, the Southeastern Regional Vision for Education, is a coalition of educators, business leaders, governors, and policymakers seeking comprehensive and lasting educational improvement in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. This document contains the proceedings of a forum on the status of federal…

The article examines the recent redesign of the processes and standards of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education from the perspective of the history of efforts to establish national standards for teacher education in the United States. Lessons and possible pitfalls for these continuing efforts are drawn, based on challeges…

This teacher guide includes activity information for the program NOVA, Fall 2001. Background for each activity is provided along with its correlation to the national science standards. Activities include: (1) "Search for a Safe Cigarette"; (2) "18 Ways To Make a Baby"; (3) "Secrets of Mind"; (4) "Neanderthals on…

When selecting a trade book for use in the social studies classroom, teachers must ensure that it represents high quality literature that will be interesting to students. This process involves examining such literary elements as characterization, plot, theme, setting, author's style, and point of view. The book must also match the theme or goal in…