vi
Voluntary national standards .................................................................
22
Teachers’ Attitudes Towards National Standards ......................................
23
Parents’ Attitudes Towards National Standards ........................................
24
State-Level Initiatives .....................................................................................
25
Attitudes Towards State-Level Initiatives ...................................................
28
District- and Local-Level Initiatives ...............................................................
29
Attitudes Towards District- and School-Based Initiatives ..........................
29
Curriculum .....................................................................................................
30
Curriculum Levels Reflect Different Standards .........................................
32
Curriculum Development ..........................................................................
33
Assessment .....................................................................................................
34
National-Level Assessment .........................................................................
34
Standardized Examinations ........................................................................
35
Views on standardized exams ...............................................................
36
In-Class Tests and Quizzes .........................................................................
38
Standards in the classroom ....................................................................
39
Learning Environment at School ...................................................................
40
Financial Support for Schooling ................................................................
40
Two Elementary Schools in Metro City ....................................................
41
Policies and Procedures That Influence
Achievement in Elementary
Schools ...................................................................................................
42
Policies and Procedures That Influence Achievement in Middle Schools ..
43
Policies and Procedures That Influence Achievement in High Schools ..
45
Home
Environment,
Parental Involvement,
and Parental Expectations of
the Schools .............................................................................................
46
Home Environment and Parental Involvement in Schooling ...................
47
Parental Expectations ................................................................................
48
The Transition Beyond High School .............................................................
51
Examinations for High School Completion and College Entrance ...........
52
Qualification for Post-High School Academic Choices .............................
53
Student and Parent Perceptions of College ..............................................
54
Summary ........................................................................................................
55
External Influences ....................................................................................
55
Internal Influences .....................................................................................
56