The data in this brief come from the nationally representative 2011-12 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) Public and Private School Principal Data Files and the Public and Private School Data Files. Principals who participated in SASS provided information about the percentage of time spent on various tasks by answering the question: "On…

Describes four components of the DataWorks Productivity Index (DPI) that measures classroom productivity: time on task, curriculum alignment, breadth of curriculum, and teacher effectiveness. (PKP)

Argues that educators must "think outside the box" to improve school performance. Suggests several areas for expanded thought, including school size, curriculum coverage, grading practices, use of time, organization of students, time management, and belief statement. (PKP)

The paper reviews findings and implications of curriculum based assessment (CBA), an approach focusing on collecting, interpreting, and using data to help lower achieving students have opportunities for success in mainstreamed settings. An instructional delivery model is presented to guage the probability of task success and provide a structure…

Contending that the four commonplaces of defensible educational thought (the learner, the teacher, the milieu, and the subject matter) do not deal with the complexities of time and its implications for curriculum and instruction, this paper presents time as a crucial element in curricular deliberation. Various aspects of time in the school setting…

Discusses different preinstructional and instructional variables over which teachers have some control and which may affect learning, including content choice, wait time, time on task, form of instruction, success rate, monitoring, questioning, and orientation to academics. (DC)

Describes how Warner Middle School in Westminster, California, went from an underperforming school to a California Distinguished School and winner of a Title One Achieving School Award in 3 years. (PKP)

To explore the relationship between time and school learning, this paper defines the three kinds of learning time identified by researchers--allocated time, time-on-task, and academic learning time--and relates them to curriculum development. The author cites evidence that time-on-task is related to student achievement and describes two…

Research on teacher effectiveness has provided substantial evidence that certain teaching behaviors are more likely than others to promote student achievement. Described is an instructional design model that can help teachers plan for more effective teaching. Two sample social studies lessons based on the model are presented. (RM)

Reviews current research regarding integrated learning systems (ILS) in elementary and secondary education. Topics discussed include instructional effectiveness; implementation strategies, including adequate time, teacher involvement, curriculum integration, and staff development; classroom social processes; and implications for teachers. (LRW)

Examines factors that affect the successful implementation of integrated learning systems (ILSs). Empirical studies of ILSs are discussed; implementation models are considered; and factors that facilitate or hinder implementation are described, including student time on the system, teacher involvement, integration with the classroom curriculum,…

Describes the history, recommendations, and impact of "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform," the report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education. Discusses broad recommendations regarding the curriculum; standards and expectations for students; time devoted to learning; the status of the teaching…

The financial health of the education system of most states is not good; those seeking to improve educational quality will have to find inexpensive methods. Areas of the American educational system in which quality standards are not being met include time spent in learning, curriculum content, appropriate use of new technology, and personnel.…

According to a recent survey, school superintendents in Illinois generally favor the kinds of educational reforms being urged by national commissions on educational excellence. Over 100 superintendents from randomly selected elementary, secondary, and combined school districts in Illinois responded to the 104-item questionnaire. The survey sought…

This paper presents ideas relating to curriculum organization from the Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development publication, "Excellence in Our Schools: Making It Happen," which attempted to synthesize nine reports written in response to the National Commission on Excellence in Education report, "A Nation at…