The field of education is progressively building capacity and tools for producing rigorous research evidence to use in improving educational practice and outcomes. The knowledge base is lacking, however, in explicating the dynamics of research-based decision making and exploring connections between the work of research-practice partnerships and…

This appendix accompanies "Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades: Why Some Schools Do Better. A Large-Scale Study of Middle Grades Practices and Student Outcomes. Initial Research Report." This appendix contains the full bibliography of all research and policy documents consulted during the development of the ten research domains and three…

There is a critical difference between what educational researchers know and what educational practitioners do. Curriculum workers, who are the most important variable in improving the quality of education, must not only use research but must become a part of the R process. (HD)

Teachers cannot afford to ignore the research findings on right and left brain functions. Basically, three things have been discovered: (1) each hemisphere of the brain processes information differently; (2) in some people, the hemispheres work well together, in others they are in a constant state of disagreement; and (3) each hemisphere is…

Twelve chapter-length case studies of schools that participated in the Research and Development Utilization (RDU) program are presented to illuminate change management issues. The report is intended for use either as a text or as a book of readings for school professionals. Each chapter is accompanied by questions that are suitable for group…

This publication of the National Science Foundation (NSF) provides brief descriptions of projects related to Mathematics Education which were funded by NSF since the late 1950's. Projects supported fall into four categories: curriculum projects, preparation of teachers, implementation activities, and general (reports, conferences, research). The…

In 2002, the RAND Corporation launched a project to understand how educators are responding to the new accountability requirements in California, Georgia, and Pennsylvania--three states that represent a range of approaches, regions, and student populations. The researchers aimed to identify the factors that enhance the implementation of SBA…

The changing role of research in curriculum development since the late 1950's is reviewed. Factors are discussed that have affected the prevailing attitudes toward research and its value, including its role in fields other than education and the mixed success with which various research and development models have met in education. Particular…

This paper presents the research and methodology and analyses used for the "Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades" research. This appendix contains the following sections: (1) Overview; (2) Constructing the Survey Data File; (3) Constructing Composite Independent Variables (Subdomains); (4) Constructing Longitudinal Outcome Variables; (5)…

This appendix accompanies "Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades: Why Some Schools Do Better. A Large-Scale Study of Middle Grades Practices and Student Outcomes. Initial Research Report." This appendix focuses on the findings and domain comparisons of the study. This appendix contains the following: (1) Decision Rules; (2) Full Set of…

This document contains the final report of a study conducted to test the feasibility of developing and implementing instructional modules--for adults in Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language--based on information about text processing demands and task difficulty gleaned from past national adult literacy surveys. Another objective…

This study contributes to the field by identifying a broad range of traditional and newer middle grade policies and practices, and determining in California which of these differentiate higher- from lower-performing schools serving similar student populations, with performance measured by the state's standards-based tests. Based on a sample of 303…

In the 2008-09 school year researchers from EdSource and Stanford University conducted a large-scale study of 303 middle grades schools in California. The team surveyed 303 principals, 3,752 English Language Arts (ELA) and math teachers in grades 6-8, and 157 superintendents of the districts and charter management organizations that oversee the…

THE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY BETWEEN PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE IS EMPHASIZED AS THE KEY ACTIVITY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE MID-1950'S BECAME ONE OF THE MOST VIGOROUS AND HOPEFUL PROTAGONISTS OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. THE ACTS PASSED AND THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS CREATED ARE NOTED AS AGENTS IN THIS NEW…

This publication is aimed at assisting countries as they respond to the problem of organizing a continuing process of change in the schools. The seven case studies contributed to this volume illustrate ways of balancing organizational processes and the free initiative of individual schools and teachers, within the varying traditions of each…