This research brief is Part III of a four-part study of decentralization in Houston Independent School District (HISD). This part examines the impact of decentralization on student outcomes. In hopes of improving student performance, HISD implemented decentralization throughout the 1990s (see Part I of this project for a detailed discussion of the…

High school exit exam requirements are affecting a growing number of U.S. students--particularly low-income students and students of color. This article examines the policy and legal landscape of exit testing policy to shed light on some of the key issues facing local school leaders charged with implementing these policies. The article first…

Today school library media specialists operate in an environment of daily challenges and controversies. "No Child Left Behind" established mandates that all educators are scrambling to meet. No matter how people feel about the way the legislation is being carried out, it is difficult to argue against its purpose--that all educators must…

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether Exemplary, Recognized and Acceptable schools differ in their school climates, as measured by the 10 dimensions of the Organizational Health Inventory. Significant differences were found on all 10 dimensions of the Organizational Health Inventory, with Exemplary schools out-performing Acceptable…

Describes three major expenditure categories and school-level operating costs in eight large Texas districts. Teacher salary costs are the primary determinate of resource differences among schools. An analysis of districts' fiscal and performance data shows that resources directed toward greatest student need are inadequate to overcome poverty…

Title XI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 allows the Dallas (Texas) public schools to redirect up to 5% of each appropriation received through the Act for the purpose of providing a comprehensive approach to meeting the educational, health, social service, and other needs of…

Examines the role of principals in highly successful elementary schools serving primarily students from low-income homes in influencing two factors viewed a foundational for a school in which social justice is more than simply an abstract ideal: Development of early literacy for ever child and avoidance of overidentification and inappropriate…

The Austin Independent School District (Texas) developed the Accelerating Literacy Program (ALP) in 1993 to provide additional support for students who were having trouble passing the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in the elementary grades. The ALP operates on the principle of integrating reading, writing, listening, and speaking…

This report summarizes evaluation results from AISD's federally-funded Title I program activities during 2000-2001.

The purpose of the federal Title VI, Class Size Reduction program is to reduce class sizes in grades K-3 to 18 or fewer students. In AISD, these funds were used for recruiting, hiring, and training highly qualified teachers to raise student achievement through increased personal attention. This report summarizes evaluation results of AISD's Title…

This report summarizes 2001-2002 program evaluation results of AISD's career and technology education program.