The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and understand the impact of standardized testing on educational practice in an urban, Title I school community, and to determine solutions to improve the utility of standardized testing in supporting student learning and achievement. The specific areas of focus are diagnosing…

Because feedback is a critical component of the continuous improvement cycle of the Quality Matters (QM) peer review process, the present research analyzed the feedback that peer reviewers provided to course developers after a voluntary, nonofficial QM peer review of online courses. Previous research reveals that the effects of feedback on…

To meet the constantly changing needs of schools and diverse learners, educators must frequently monitor student learning, revise curricula, and improve instruction. Consequently, it is critical that careful analyses of student performance data are ongoing components of curriculum decision-making processes. The primary purpose of this study is to…

The purpose of this study was to compare the science achievement and high school completion rates of students in a large high school implementing professional learning community concepts and practices with two large high schools not participating in professional learning community concepts and practices. The primary methodology employed was a…

When No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was signed into law, the President and secretary of education promised sweeping reform of the American education system. In the five years since the law took effect, U.S. public schools have, indeed, seen remarkable change. However, not all of the changes have been well received. Policy makers, scholars, and…

Statewide learner competency and assessment systems in 11 states were examined. Information was gathered through telephone interviews and a review of materials on the learner competency and assessment systems being used/developed in each state. Special attention was paid to the states' activities regarding development of the following: systematic…

In response to Texas State Board of Education Rules for Curriculum, which stipulate that instruction shall be provided in the essential elements of art, music, and theatre in prekindergarten through grade six, this guide offers suggestions to assist schools with initial implementation of the theatre arts curriculum. The first section of the guide,…

In 1989, the Texas State Board of Education undertook the responsibility for developing a 4-year plan and for establishing a vision for education that extends into the next century. This document contains the goals for education established by the 71st Texas legislature. The mission of public education in Texas is for it to be characterized by…

The major objectives of this Crystal City, Texas program were dropout prevention, the development of a relevant curriculum for Mexican Americans, and the acquirement of innovative methods and techniques for the successful implementation of programs developed by the project staff. The initial 100 students participating in the Opportunities for…

This handbook is intended to assist in the assessment and refinement of teacher preparation for industrial technology education in Texas. The first section contains preliminary information on the significance, development, and use of the guidebook. Provided next is an industrial technology teacher preparation assessment instrument that is based on…

The Strategic Planning Evaluation of Curriculum Assessment of Performance (SPECAP) project was designed by Texas Tech University to assess the implementation of programs by 25 tech prep consortia in Texas. This report describes the most effective tech prep practices discovered by SPECAP through analyses of consortia planning and implementation…

A project was conducted to assess and improve existing field experiences to prepare future industrial arts teachers in Texas. The following activities were accomplished during the project: determination of current field experiences available to industrial arts preparation students in Texas schools; identification of model industrial arts teacher…

This document is the first volume of a projected quarterly publication designed to assure that the most current information, both on the latest research and on successful practices in the field of gifted education is made available to schools as quickly and efficiently as possible. The four issues of this volume contain the following articles:…