Curriculum Reform and School Performance: An Evaluation of the "New Basics."

Autor/inn/en	Alexander, Karl L.; Pallas, Aaron M.
Institution	Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD. Center for Social Organization of Schools.
Titel	Curriculum Reform and School Performance: An Evaluation of the "New Basics."
Quelle	(1983), (50 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Academic Achievement; Back to Basics; Core Curriculum; Curriculum Development; Curriculum Evaluation; Data Analysis; Educational Quality; Outcomes of Education; Program Evaluation; Scores; Secondary Education; Standardized Tests + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Schulleistung; Grundlagenwissen; Kerncurriculum; Curriculum; Development; Curriculumentwicklung; Lehrplan; Entwicklung; Evaluation; Curriculumevaluation; Rahmenplan; Evaluierung; Auswertung; Quality of education; Bildungsqualität; Lernleistung; Schulerfolg; Programme evaluation; Programmevaluation; Sekundarbereich; Standadised tests; Standardisierter Test
Abstract	This report examines whether a high school curriculum organized around the five "new basics" suggested by the National Commission on Excellence in Education is likely to enhance student achievement. Data from the ETS Growth Study reveals that completion of the core curriculum has sizable effects on senior-year test performance, even when prior levels of test performance are controlled. It is also shown that completing the entire core curriculum enhances test performance beyond the effects of coursework in a particular outcome area alone. Importantly, though, completion of the core is effective only if students perform at relatively high levels in their courses. It is concluded that the new basics can be effective in promoting generic skills in the verbal and quantitative domains. For this, the commission gets high marks. However, it is also the case that the commission has failed to provide a comprehensive stocktaking on the condition of American education. This is discussed in the concluding comments. An appendix shows course categories used to construct the new basics core curriculum. (Author/TE)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC