For months, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have been debated throughout the media, legislatures, education organizations, and households across the country. Education groups have released statements both in favor of the standards and opposed. As these arguments are being tossed around, 44 states and D.C. are implementing CCSS and other…

This paper documents the experience and lessons from implementing an e-learning program aimed at creating multidisciplinary research capacity. It presents a case study of bringing together a multidisciplinary group of professionals on-line to learn the skills needed to be a successful researcher in the context of HIV/AIDS and food security…

Since the 1980s there has been significant growth in the engagement of higher education with workforce development, with among other things the emergence of a distinct if varied area of provision commonly referred to as work-based learning. Recent examination of practice and literature indicates a growing sophistication in the way that work-based…

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act mandates the performance of functional assessment for students with severe behavior problems. A functional analysis can be one part of this process but its use has been minimal. This study evaluates whether a paraprofessional could (a) be trained to correctly perform 3 conditions of a functional…

Describes staff development components for veteran and beginning teachers planning to teach in blocked classes. Teachers need training and practice in information-sharing methods, learning-theory applications, assessment strategies, student mastery, curriculum mapping and integration, classroom organization, and lesson development. Block…

One of 10 documents developed by the Preschool Program for Handicapped Children of the Putnam/Northern Westchester (NY) Board of Cooperative Educational Services, the report details accomplishments during the 1980-81 school year. The following are reported as major accomplishments: Joint Dissemination Review Panel (JDRP) unanimous approval;…

To support educational reforms, new assessments must stress the performance of complex, holistic tasks, not snippets of performance in segments, elements, or chunks of complex tasks. Sidebars present helpful guidelines for developing staff and creating an assessment. Assessments can assume numerous shapes, including budgeting activities,…

The Interdependent Support Service Model, a 3 year project operated by the Hennepin Technical Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota) was designed to evaluate and program for communication and motor needs of severely/profoundly handicapped students and to develop related inservice training for staff. First year activities included modifying existing…

Pursuant to the provisions of the National School Lunch Act and Nutrition Amendments of 1977, Tennessee instituted a statewide nutrition education program aimed at educators, school food service personnel, and children in schools and child care institutions. Establishment of an evaluation team early in the program development process proved…

When preparing middle-level students for the information Age, educators must consider staff-development needs in the areas of computer technology and portfolio design; classroom restructuring for project-based curriculum; integrated subject disciplines; and alignment of the portfolio approach to school, district, state, and parental expectations…

The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) is carrying out a nine year evaluation of citizenship education in England on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The Citizenship Education Longitudinal Study (hereafter, the Study) began in 2001 and is tracking a cohort of young people from age 11 to 18, who entered…

In response to concerns about current grading policies and procedures, a study was undertaken to provide state leaders with descriptions of grading policies and procedures across high schools. A total of 144 districts (out of 292 in the state that was the focus of this study) responded. Documents provided by the districts varied according to…

The responsibility of the reading/language arts program is to provide quality instruction, materials, and assessment practices to a diverse community of students. The responsibility of the Supervisor of Reading/Language Arts is to provide leadership toward integrating all communication skills with focus on increased student learning. There is no…

Use of a model for systematic ecological assessment was tested in a work experience program for special education inclusion assistants placed in inclusive preschools. Preliminary evaluation data suggest that the model produces integrated developmental activities, use of peer mediation, and a play-based approach to discrete skill development.…

The use of classroom observation is explored in several capacities. Specific observation instruments that were developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the National Follow Through Program were later used (sometimes in adapted forms) to study early childhood programs, secondary school programs, student teacher effectiveness; and use of time…