All professions are required to be accountable in various ways for the quality of the service they render -- to their clients, to the public and to their fellow professionals. In the article from which this excerpt is taken, the writer analyses five forms of accountability that may operate in various institutions in a democratic society. Only two of these forms are applicable to teaching on a regular, day-to-day basis. A third form -- legal accountability -- comes into effect from time to time when a teacher, school, or education department is held to account in a court of law as a result of legal action, perhaps on the part of parents.

The ELRC's Teacher Appraisal policy is another important means by which teachers' professional accountability can be assured in South Africa. Note the important emphasis on teachers' professional development rather than on simply judging teachers' performance.

" This course provides an exciting, eye-opening, and thoroughly useful inquiry into what it takes to live an extraordinary life, on your own terms. The instructors address what it takes to succeed, to be proud of your life, and to be happy in it. Participants tackle career satisfaction, money, body, vices, and relationship to themselves and others. They learn how to address issues in their lives, how to live life, and how to learn from it. This course is offered during the Independent Activities Period (IAP), which is a special 4-week term at MIT that runs from the first week of January until the end of the month. This not-for-credit course is sponsored by the Department of Science, Technology, and Society. A similar, semester-long version of this course is taught in the Sloan Fellows Program. A semester-long extension of the IAP course is also taught to the population at large of MIT (please see PE.550, Spring). Acknowledgment The instructors would like to thank Prof. David Mindell for his sponsorship of this course, his intention for its continued expansion, and his commitment to the well-being of MIT students."

" This course provides an exciting, eye-opening, and thoroughly useful inquiry into what it takes to live an extraordinary life, on your own terms. The instructors address what it takes to succeed, to be proud of your life, and to be happy in it. Participants tackle career satisfaction, money, body, vices, and relationship to themselves. They learn how to confront issues in their lives, how to live life, and how to learn from it. A short version of this course meets during the Independent Activities Period (IAP), which is a special 4-week term at MIT that runs from the first week of January until the end of the month. Then this semester-long extension of the IAP course is taught to interested members of the MIT community. This not-for-credit course is sponsored by the Department of Science, Technology, and Society. A similar, semester-long version of this course is taught in the Sloan Fellows Program. Acknowledgment The instructors would like to thank Prof. David Mindell for his sponsorship of this course, his hopes for its continued expansion, and his commitment to the well-being of MIT students."

The performance of American students in schools is gaining more and more attention at the local, state, and federal levels. Beginning in the late 90s, the attention of many state legislatures and state boards of education shifted to school accountability. This shift remains prevalent. The performance and success of American students are linked to standardized testing. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation mandated standardized testing in several grades in several disciplines. Not only have accountability measures been mandated for students requiring satisfactory scores for promotions, measures are also in place for schools. Based on the performances of all students and several additional variables, schools are assigned school scores and are required to obtain Average Yearly Progress (AYP) (NCLB, 2008). The implementation issues coupled with the implications of NCLB directly align with educators and other vested stakeholders beginning to focus on variables that affect student achievement. Prior to NCLB, A Nation At Risk provided a framework for a similar focus. The implications of both legislations address issues pertinent to students and teachers in K-12 schools, and the implications in higher education focus on teacher preparation programs.

Presents an overview of major issues related to the design, function, management, regulation, and evaluation of health insurance and managed care plans. Provides a firm foundation in basic concepts pertaining to private and public sector health insurance/benefit plans, both as provided by employers and government agencies such as Medicaid and Medicare. Key topics include population care management techniques, provider payment, organizational integration, quality and accountability, cost-containment, and public policy. The course makes extensive use of outside experts Course is relevant for management- or policy-oriented students who will be working in, or interrelating with, public and private (both for-profit and not-for-profit) health insurance plans and organized delivery systems such as HMOs and hospital/physician "integrated" delivery systems. Course is also relevant to students who will be researching and analyzing these systems. Although the emphasis is placed on the US, the material is applicable to international students who are interested in financing and organization of highly developed medical care delivery systems in other nations.