Accountability Mechanisms for State Education Reform: Some Organizational Alternatives

A major challenge facing state policy makers who are demanding a high level of accountability in education is to design an accountability mechanism to track the progress of education reform. This article examines the structure and uses of eight exemplary approaches to accountability to find out what makes each mechanism work. Emerging from the analysis is a common set of design characteristics for state accountability mechanisms that form the beginnings of a new theory about state governance in education.

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Understanding Local Control in the Wake of State Education Reform

Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis ◽

10.3102/01623737012001082 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 82-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Susan H. Fuhrman ◽

Richard F. Elmore

Keyword(s):

Education Reform ◽

State Policy ◽

Education Reforms ◽

Local Effects ◽

State Education ◽

Professional Opinion ◽

State Policymaking ◽

State And Local ◽

Political Entrepreneurs ◽

Zero Sum

In this article we argue that traditional notions of state-local relations as a zero-sum game need recasting. Although some new state education reforms are exerting strong influences on the classroom, there are reasons to think that the reforms left not only considerable room for flexibility but also enhanced local activism. New conceptions of state-local relations must account for the ways in which states mobilize public and professional opinion, districts orchestrate state and local priorities around schools and classrooms, and local political entrepreneurs influence state policy. The result is often that the local effects of state policy are greater than those one would predict on the basis of state capacity, and localities often gain influence as a result of state policymaking rather than lose it.

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A proposal to enhance national capability to manage epidemics: The critical importance of expert statistical input including official statistics

Statistical Journal of the IAOS ◽

10.3233/sji-210808 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

N.I. Fisher ◽

D.J. Trewin

Keyword(s):

Data Streams ◽

Age Groups ◽

Quantitative Information ◽

Economic Welfare ◽

Way Of Life ◽

Policy Makers ◽

The Social ◽

Novel Virus ◽

High Level ◽

Integration Analysis

Given the high level of global mobility, pandemics are likely to be more frequent, and with potentially devastating consequences for our way of life. With COVID-19, Australia is in relatively better shape than most other countries and is generally regarded as having managed the pandemic well. That said, we believe there is a critical need to start the process of learning from this pandemic to improve the quantitative information and related advice provided to policy makers. A dispassionate assessment of Australia’s health and economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic reveals some important inadequacies in the data, statistical analysis and interpretation used to guide Australia’s preparations and actions. For example, one key shortcoming has been the lack of data to obtain an early understanding of the extent of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic cases or the differences across age groups, occupations or ethnic groups. Minimising the combined health, social and economic impacts of a novel virus depends critically on ongoing acquisition, integration, analysis, interpretation and presentation of a variety of data streams to inform the development, execution and monitoring of appropriate strategies. The article captures the essential quantitative components of such an approach for each of the four basic phases, from initial detection to post-pandemic. It also outlines the critical steps in each stage to enable policy makers to deal more efficiently and effectively with future such events, thus enhancing both the social and the economic welfare of its people. Although written in an Australian context, we believe most elements would apply to other countries as well.

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HANDLING DISTRUST ON RISK COMMUNICATION IN NIGERIA: A STRATEGY TO STRENGTHENING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK RESPONSE

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2021.245 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-22

Author(s):

Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi ◽

Priscilla Onaopemipo Akosile ◽

Aanuoluwapo Adeyimika Afolabi ◽

Victor Okoliko Ukwenya

Keyword(s):

Risk Communication ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Outbreak Response ◽

Community Members ◽

Chi Square ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Chi Square Test ◽

Level Of Significance ◽

High Level

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess the level of trust in the COVID-19 risk communication efforts in Nigeria. Methods We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among community members aged 15 years and above in Ondo state in October, 2020. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics were summarized using frequencies. Trust was ranked from “1” implying “Low level of trust” to “7” denoting “High level of trust”. We conducted bivariate Chi-square test on respondents’ level of trust in the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and socio-demographic characteristics. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results Among the 691 respondents, 244 (35.3%) were aged 21 to 29 years, and 304 (51.4%) used the NCDC to obtain COVID-19 knowledge. Overall, 205 (41.8%) had high level of trust in the NCDC. Furthermore, 51 (51.5%) individuals aged 30-39 years had high level of trust in the NCDC (ᵡ2=17.455, p= 0.001). Also, 114 (48.5%) persons who lived with children below 18 years had high level of trust in the NCDC (ᵡ2= 8.266, p= 0.004). Conclusion Policy makers should prioritize the involvement of young and educated persons in COVID-19 risk communication strategies.

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Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIEd): a high-level academic and industry note 2021

AI and Ethics ◽

10.1007/s43681-021-00074-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Ali Chaudhry ◽

Emre Kazim

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Intelligent Tutoring Systems ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Tutoring Systems ◽

Research And Practice ◽

The Past ◽

Artificial Intelligence In Education ◽

Potential Impact ◽

High Level ◽

Contextualized Learning

AbstractIn the past few decades, technology has completely transformed the world around us. Indeed, experts believe that the next big digital transformation in how we live, communicate, work, trade and learn will be driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) [83]. This paper presents a high-level industrial and academic overview of AI in Education (AIEd). It presents the focus of latest research in AIEd on reducing teachers’ workload, contextualized learning for students, revolutionizing assessments and developments in intelligent tutoring systems. It also discusses the ethical dimension of AIEd and the potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the future of AIEd’s research and practice. The intended readership of this article is policy makers and institutional leaders who are looking for an introductory state of play in AIEd.

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Clarifying Institutional and Organizational Conditions Promoting Principals' Quality Leadership and Reform Design for Japan

Impact ◽

10.21820/23987073.2021.7.15 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 (7) ◽

pp. 15-17

Author(s):

Hirofumi Hamada

Keyword(s):

Education Reform ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Vital Role ◽

Quality Of Education ◽

Organizational Conditions ◽

Problem Situations ◽

Distributed Approach ◽

Area Of Interest ◽

High Level

Education reform helps ensure that the education in a given country is of the highest possible quality and is a key area of focus for many developed countries. Japan's education system rates highly and the evolution of education reform is key to ensuring this high level is sustained. School principals play a key role in delivering high-quality education and, indeed, a school principal's leadership correlates with the quality of education available. This is an area of interest for Professor Hirofumi Hamada, School Management Laboratory in the Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan, who is currently exploring the institutional and organisational conditions that affect the leadership of principals. The goal of this research is to help shape education reform in Japan. Hamada believes it is necessary to create an environment of independent and collaborative learning and to value the individuality of children. In addition, problem situations among children are diverse and complex and how schools respond influences the quality of education. Given that the principal is in charge of how a school is run, they play a vital role in assuring the quality of education. Key to Hamada's work is the idea that principals can share their knowledge and leadership with teachers and this creates an environment of shared leadership. He believes that empowering teachers and encouraging them to take on leadership duties is essential. He is working to inform educators that schools require the leadership of principals and for principals to promote a distributed approach to leadership.

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Sustainability and Depletion Accounting: A Case Study of Oil in Libya

Environment and Natural Resources Research ◽

10.5539/enrr.v7n1p34 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 34 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Abdulrazag Mohamed Etelawi ◽

Keith A. Blatner ◽

Jill McCluskey

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Planning Process ◽

National Income ◽

Policy Makers ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Time Period ◽

Oil Resources ◽

Income Development ◽

Per Capita ◽

High Level

There is a strong need to study sustainability and depletion accounting of oil in the Libyan economy because oil production and export is the single largest source of national income in the country. This study covers the time period from 1990 to 2009. Throughout this period, the Libyan national economy used its oil and petroleum industries to increase national income. Development sustainability can be defined as investment divided by GDP. This measure provides an indication of the low level of sustainable development in Libya over the period of analysis, which is 0.38 on average. It is important that the Libyan government develop and implement plans and strategies for achieving sustainability and the maintenance of oil resources.Carbon dioxide emissions provide another indication of the presence or absence of sustainability. The ratio of carbon dioxide ranged from a minimum of 8.50 metric tons per capita in 1990 to 10.00 metric tons per capita in 2009 and average 9.07 metric tons per capita over the course of the study period. CO2 emissions were also much higher than other countries in the Middle East and North Africa. This suggests there was relatively little interest in the sustainable development of the Libyan economy during this period. The Environment Domestic Product (EDP) increased sharply from the beginning of the study at $24.23 billion in 1991 to $45.87 billion in 2009 in constant dollars. Again, one can infer that policy makers did not consider the depletion of oil resources and the environment in their planning process, or at least did not place a high level of concern on this issue.

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Taranto’s long shadow? Cancer mortality shows alarming peaks for specific types in the most polluted city of Italy but also in surrounding towns

10.1101/2020.12.18.20248464 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

R. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti ◽

Alena Velichevskaya

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Industrial Area ◽

National Scale ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Specific Cancer ◽

Cancer Types ◽

Heavy Pollution ◽

High Level ◽

Epidemiological Effects ◽

The City

AbstractA national-scale study in Italy showed an incidence of cancer higher in the territories indicated as highly polluted compared to the regional average. One of them, the city of Taranto in Apulia (Italy), which is considered one of the most polluted cities in Europe, has numerous industrial activities that impact population health. We studied the epidemiological effects of a high level of pollution produced by the industrial area of Taranto in increasing the mortality rate for some specific cancer types in the city and towns of the two provinces located downwind. We analysed 10-year mortality rates for 14 major types of tumours reported among the residents of Taranto, of 6 surrounding towns, randomly placed within an imaginary cone in the main wind direction from the vertex of the industrial zone of Taranto. Our results confirm our hypothesis that the mortality rate for some specific types of cancer (namely, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, leukaemia, liver and bladder tumours) are higher than the norm in the municipality of Taranto and we have evidence that other local causes may be implicated in the excess of mortality besides the potential dispersal of pollutants from the industrial area of Taranto. The proximity to the industrial area of Taranto cannot, therefore, explain alone the anomalies detected in some populations. It is likely that other site-specific sources of heavy pollution are playing a role in worsening the death toll of these towns and this must be taken into serious consideration by environmental policy-makers and local authorities.

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Next Generation European Research Vessels: Current Status and Foreseeable Evolution

10.31230/osf.io/6sdhu ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Per Nieuwejaar ◽

Valerie Mazauric ◽

Christian Betzler ◽

Mafalda Carapuco ◽

Andre Cattrijsse ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Position Paper ◽

Research Vessel ◽

Current Status ◽

Marine Science ◽

European Research ◽

Human Capabilities ◽

Policy Makers ◽

The Future ◽

Science Community ◽

High Level

This position paper provides a review of the current European research vessel fleet, its capabilities and equipment, assessing its ability to support marine science across the globe now and into the future. It particularly looks at current and future capabilities in the context of deep sea and Polar research. It also takes a wider vision, assessing the importance of these vessels in the ocean and earth observing landscape. This review includes not only technological but also human capabilities, looking at training needs for crew and technicians to ensure they can continue to deliver on critical science needs. It also considers the ways in which the current European fleet is managed.This Position Paper sets out recommendations for how the fleet will need to develop in the future to ensure that it will continue to provide the same high level of support to science globally, as well as highlighting ways in which management could be made more efficient. It is aimed at national- and European-level policy makers and funders, as well as the marine science community and the research vessel operator community.

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