State and Local Education Reform Policy: From Congress to the Classroom

The purpose of this study was to examine the progress of education reform "from Congress to the classroom (1996-2001)." In recent years, the federal government, states, districts, and non-governmental participants (e.g., professional organizations, foundations, and other private organizations) have taken unprecedented steps to raise the quality of teaching and learning by developing challenging academic standards and new assessments designed to encourage different ways of teaching. This project sought to understand the effects of these policies, particularly on state and local policy and on classroom practice.

Products
Assessment and Accountability Across the 50 States. (Margaret Goertz and Mark Duffy, May 2001, No. RB-33)

Assessment and Accountability Systems in the 50 States: 1999-2000. (Margaret E. Goertz and Mark C. Duffy with Kerstin Carlson Le Floch, March 2001, No. RR-046)

The District Role in Building Capacity: Four Strategies. (Diane Massell, September 2000, No. RB-32)

The Federal Role in Defining "Adequate Yearly Progress:" The Flexibility/Accountability Trade-off
(Margaret E. Goertz, September 2001)

Hedging Bets: Standards-based Reform in Classrooms. (Suzanne M. Wilson and Robert E. Floden, 2001). Chapter in From the Capitol to the Classroom: Standards-based Reform in the States, edited by Susan H. Fuhrman. Please e-mail us at cpre@gse.upenn.edu for a copy of the chapter.

Standards-based Accountability: Horse Trade or Horse Whip? (Margaret E. Goertz, 2001). Chapter in From the Capitol to the Classroom: Standards-based Reform in the States, edited by Susan H. Fuhrman. Please e-mail us at cpre@gse.upenn.edu for a copy of the chapter.

State Assessment and Accountability Systems: 50 State Profiles

State Strategies for Building Capacity: Addressing the Needs of Standards-Based Reform
(Diane Massell, July 1998, No. RB-25)

State Strategies for Building Capacity in Education: Progress and Continuing Challenges
(Diane Massell, October 1998, No. RR-041)