The publication "Bootstraps, Part III" serves as a starter for working committees which are formulating a language arts curriculum (kindergarten through grade 12); it allows for additions and changes appropriate for individual schools, contains identifiable strands (such as "speaking") extending through the 13 grade levels, and gives long-range…

Thirty-two elementary schools in the District of Columbia participated in a study comparing the effectiveness of the district's midyear student promotion program with that of an annual promotion program. Sixteen schools used each form of promotion. Third grade reading and mathematics scores in the experimental group did not differ significantly…

This paper examines research on classroom programs for elementary school students who are at risk for learning problems. The full range of alternative classroom organization models designed to meet the needs of low-achieving or heterogeneous classes is explored in an attempt to discover which type of program is most effective and why. The goal of…

The best reporting procedure for any school or school district can be determined only after careful study of the needs and philosophy of the educational program. Whatever the choice of evaluation process, it should be focused on the individual rather than on a group, be skill- or criterion-based, be adaptable on a multi-grade-level range, be…

This paper presents findings of the longitudinal School Success Study (SSS), which is being conducted to determine the academic and social effects of nongraded (multiage, continuous progress) programs on Tennessee elementary school students. Covering the years 1993-99, the research seeks to identify successful school practices in both nongraded…

A general science course designed to meet one of the science requirements for prospective elementary school teachers at the University of Alabama emphasizes mastery learning of factual content, and is intended to provide an overview of the several areas of science that typically constitute elementary school science. This report describes this…

In 1991, East Ward Elementary School (Texas) exemplified a dilemma in traditional instruction approaches, namely, that teachers working ever harder using traditional approaches were still not preparing the diverse student population to live in a highly technological, fast-paced world. The staff then engaged in research into the concepts of…

A cohort group of nine-year-olds in nine inner-city schools were studied over a three-year period to determine the extent of reading achievement under a continuous progress reading and mathematics curriculum instituted in a large urban school system. Changes in students' perceptions of their learning environment, such as reduced competitiveness,…

Pius X High School in Downey, California, possesses a highly individualized academic program that stresses new roles for teachers and students; a nongraded continuous progress curriculum; varied, multimedia learning materials and activities; and individualized student scheduling and evaluation. Under the direction of the teacher, who acts as an…

An evaluation was conducted of a comprehensive plan to restructure a primary school in Candler County, Georgia, into a non-graded, multi-age, continuous progress learning center. The project entailed restructuring the classroom, implementing a shared decision-making structure, developing a learning curriculum, and using portfolio assessment to…

This study examined the implementation of the seven critical attributes of the primary school curriculum mandated by the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) in a single multi-age primary classroom. The study used a case-study approach over a 16-month period. The seven attributes observed are: (1) developmentally appropriate practices; (2)…