This case study describes the peer evaluation system the Maricopa County Educational Services Agency (MCESA) is using in the districts participating in its Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) 3 and 4 grants. Maricopa County's TIF districts cover much of the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area. Including both TIF 3 and 4 cohorts, 12 districts with a total…

This brief explores the costs of developing and implementing Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) in order to help Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grantees interested in adopting SLOs anticipate and understand the costs of implementing them in a district or school. The brief focuses on the costs involved with the initial design and implementation of an…

For over a decade, the National Science Foundation's Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program has funded researchers and educators to build an understanding of best practices, contexts, and processes contributing to K-12 students' motivation and participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics…

Gifted education suffers from poor financing, fears of elitism, and problems in student identification. Appropriate definitions, selection procedures, and instructional techniques now exist for gifted education. It is time to make a commitment to these students who, contrary to popular belief, cannot ordinarily develop to their full potential…

This document was developed to assist school, administrative, and state department staff to better understand the links and commonalities of requirements across the title programs in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. Title I includes Part A, Basic Program; Part B, Even…

This report is one of three volumes that describe the second phase of a study that examined the implementation of four federal change agent programs related to education. Phase 2 of the study focused on what happens to local projects in the two largest change agent programs--ESEA Title III and ESEA Title VII--when federal funding stops. This…

Divided into three major sections, this document defines rural, discusses the role of the National Diffusion Network (NDN), and summarizes the findings of the 17 research reports included in Abt Associates' study of the Experimental Schools Program for Small Schools Serving Rural Areas. Section I, a summary reproduction from recorded notes of an…

The United States Department of Energy's Schools and Hospitals Program has been popular among schools. The necessity of locating nonfederal resources to achieve energy management warrants (1) developing a strategy of evaluation among schools and (2) market research and analysis. (CJH)

This study describes how local educators design Chapter 1 instructional programs for educationally deprived students from low-income areas. A multiple case study investigation was done in 20 districts in 11 states, chosen to reflect differences in context, program design, and design change. The report includes discussions of the following: (1) the…

This publication is a guide with the necessary materials for leading a workshop session on defining and developing effective outcomes statements for use in Chapter 1 programs. Following a list of the transparencies and handouts used in the workshop as well as an outline of the 3-hour session, a section on presenter's background information…

In an attempt to increase the usefulness of future National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) findings, yet retain the usefulness of past assessments, a framework for the conduct of assessments is presented. This framework is supported by agreement on three major goals, by overall methods for reaching those goals, and by firm concepts of…

This article summarizes the design and findings of the four-year Rand Corporation study of four federal programs designed to promote change in local schools: ESEA Title III, Right to Read, the Vocational Education Act, and ESEA Title VII Bilingual Projects. (SJL)

Pursuant to a request from a U.S. Senate committee, this document reviews the implementation of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986, whose major purpose was to help schools and communities establish drug abuse education and prevention programs. Information gathering efforts were conducted in large urban school districts within five…

Parents of limited-English-proficient (LEP) students often face linguistic and cultural challenges while trying to support their children's education. Parents depend on educators to help them strengthen their abilities in these areas. Language, literacy, and cultural needs may vary widely, and parent education programs should be adapted to this…

The 1977-78 program plan is presented for the National Institute of Education (NIE) Education and Work Group, which sponsors research on the nature of the relationship between schooling and work and develops programs which aim at increasing the ability of youth and adults to choose, enter, and progress in careers without regard to the barriers…