Inquiry is the essence of social studies, and inquiry "looping" in social studies curricula means offering students opportunities to engage in inquiry in regular intervals and in a coherent fashion within and across grade levels. This can benefit the youngest students since they are filled with hope and want to make a difference in the…

Thoroughly updated and expanded, this fourth edition focuses on the use of curriculum-based assessment to ensure learning disabled and low achieving students adequate educational opportunities. The text explores ways of providing detail and explanation in the context of current and emerging issues in educational assessment and standards. The point…

This is the companion report to "Early Progress: Interim Research on Personalized Learning" which documents the teacher survey results for the 2013-14 school year. Researchers obtained and analyzed both qualitative and quantitative data from each school to create a broad picture of the schools' efforts to implement personalized learning…

Traces the middle school movement from the early 1960s through the year 2,000 and beyond. (JM)

An English elementary-level administrator discusses what his county system does in the way of teaching basic skills, implementing accountability, teaching the gifted, organizing grades, and providing for staff development in in-service programs for teachers. (IRT)

The movement toward a functional reorganization of the school system began more than two decades ago, and has survived two of the stages through which every project, on its way from inception to practice, must necessarily pass: that of academic discussion and that of consideration of working plans. It is now entering the final stage, that of…

Blaming unsatisfactory student achievement on the middle school concept is a case of mistaken identity. Too many middle schools have failed to fully implement the middle school concept. Based on statements from the Carnegie Council and the National Middle School Association, the middle school concept calls for improved academic achievement for all…

This publication aims to briefly describe the important features and general characteristics of education in the United States. It is important to note that, due to the highly decentralized nature of U.S. education, policies and practices can vary considerably from state to state and from school district to school district. This publication cites…