Independent schools--and their teachers and administrators--are, as the name suggests, fiercely independent. So when the Common Core State Standards hit the national stage in March 2010 and became the center of the national conversation on education, it was no surprise that the majority of independent schools dismissed the standards as another…

The California Collaborative on District Reform convened in Oakland for a two-day meeting, "Integrating Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning to Advance Equity and Achievement." The meeting explored methods to support and integrate academic, social, and emotional learning in K-12 education. Implementation efforts surrounding the…

Describes Utah's efforts to improve their technology education program to help their students become technologically literate. Their new curricula are organized around the cluster areas of communication, manufacturing, construction, and energy/power/transportation. (JOW)

In a comprehensive, nationwide study, the Richardson Foundation surveyed programs for gifted children. Based on survey results, the Pyramid Project is a five-year test in four Texas school districts with a goal of providing appropriate instruction for all above average students of all ages in all subjects every day. (MT)

Presents a detailed conceptual model for developing a thinking skills currriculum. Discusses whether it should be done through separate courses or integrated into subject matter courses. Includes four figures (MD)

Constructed for use by individuals analyzing the status and problems of local reading programs and systematically seeking and developing solutions, this handbook is a programed self-study guide which may be used by a committee or task force to collect data and make decisions. The handbook contains eleven charts which may be used to summarize…

The National Education Association's Teacher Education Initiative restructures teacher preparation around principles of partnership, coherent knowledge base, systemic internal change, systematic external change, equity and diversity, and teacher leadership. (SK)

Describes a fund raising project, the "palette of prizes," to raise money for theatre for children in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Discusses creation of theater presentations involving nearly the entire student body. Suggests 11 lessons for other communities interested in using Blair County's arts education programming as a model. Discusses…

Math in Common® (MiC) is a five-year initiative that supports a formal network of 10 California school districts as they implement the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics (CCSS-M) across grades K-8. In spring 2015, WestEd administered surveys to understand the perspectives on Common Core State Standards-Mathematics (CCSS-M) implementation…

This paper examines educators' interest in fostering critical thinking behaviors in relation to other "process education" concerns. It presents a definition of critical thinking and then uses that definition to classify and evaluate the literature on critical thinking, logical thinking, and reasoning. The paper examines essays, research studies,…

Description of a long-range plan for program improvement and curriculum revision through the development of exit-level student objectives for each course and grade level. (JG)

Results of a comprehensive study of the school climate component in the School District of Philadelphia's school improvement project--the Replicating Success Project (RSP)--are reported. The RSP study, which was implemented in a large urban public school system, uses multiple indicators and a chart essay in reporting findings in order to present…

Describes a plan to restructure and reform Minnesota's kindergarten through 12th-grade education system in an effort to ensure that students are adequately prepared for the future. Discusses student performance, the limits of K-12 education, core competencies, problem-solving skills, and students' responsibility for their own education. (CT)

Physical education can be an integral part of the basics of education when the curriculum teaches fundamental skills, focuses on these skills for life survival, broadens awareness of the world, and provides recreation. (DF)

The self-study approach to program evaluation and curricular revision described in this manual represents an effort to revitalize K-12 physical education programs. Procedures are based upon self-study activities conducted as part of the Michigan Exemplary Physical Education Programs Project. An essential ingredient to self-evaluation is the…