Quality of U.S. Education Information. Hearings before the Subcommittee on Government Information and Regulation of the Committee on Governmental Affairs, Senate, One Hundred First Congress, First Session. Overview of National Goals (October 23, 1989), Availability and Quality of National Education Database (November 1, 1989).

Fundamental to a realistic assessment of educational quality is an assessment of United States education statistics and information-gathering efforts. This hearing focused on the identification of information needed and steps the Congress needs to take to make education information available on a timely basis so that policy decisions can be made. Opening remarks of Senators J. Bingaman, Simon, H. Kohl, and J. Heinz are included. Ten witnesses provided testimony: (1) Christopher T. Cross, Assistant Secretary for Education Research and Improvement reviewed the National Assessment of Educational Progress, accompanied by Jeanne Griffith, acting director, Cross-Cutting Education Statistics and Analysis Division, and David Sweet, director, Elementary and Secondary Outcomes Division; (2) Patricia A. Graham, dean, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University; (3) Chester E. Finn, professor, Vanderbilt University; (4) Denis P. Doyle, senior research fellow, Hudson Institute; (5) H. Dickson Corbett, director, Research for Better Schools; (6) Ernest Boyer, president, Princeton Office, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; (7) Emerson J. Elliott, acting commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics; (8) Lois-ellin Datta, Director for Program Evaluation in Human Services Areas, United States General Accounting Office; (9) Gordon M. Ambach, executive director, Council of Chief State School Officers; and (10) George E. Hall, president, Slater Hall Information Products. Prepared statements by each of these witnesses are provided in an appendix, which includes other articles and remarks on the quality of education information. (SLD)