The purpose of this quantitative study was to provide school district leaders and policymakers information of the impact grade configuration had on academic performance using math and ELA ILEARN scores over a three-year period. The study included data from 585 schools that were classified into four groups: Elementary Setting, Intermediate Setting,…

Research shows that the at-risk population entering college dropout or land on probation within their first year in college. Through a longitudinal comparative research design, this study examines at-risk students' academic standing, retention, graduation, and tutoring usage within a cohort program compared to a non-cohort initiative at a…

Emerging practices in both K-12 and higher education hold great promise in the establishment of equity frameworks. The use of finely disaggregated data, the effort to track additional student groups, and related work, all help to establish policies and tools to monitor the impact of reform efforts to address inequities. State programs and…

Maria Montessori developed a form of education in the first half of the last century that came to be called by her surname, and research indicates it often has positive outcomes. In the years since its development, tens of thousands of schools worldwide have called their programs "Montessori," yet implementations vary widely, leading to…

The OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) examines not just what students know in science, reading and mathematics, but what they can do with what they know. This report is the product of a collaborative effort between the countries participating in PISA, the national and international experts and institutions working within…

This is the second in a series of briefs summarizing findings from the newest and most rigorous research related to racial and socioeconomic diversity in public schools. The studies on which this brief is based were published recently in three special issues of the peer-reviewed journal, "Teachers College Record," edited by Professors…

Findings from a 3-year study of 33 urban special education programs reveal the following: (1) enrollments are stable; (2) costs are not spiraling; (3) improper referrals have decreased; and (4) few parents are complaining. Offers 4 suggestions to improve special education programs. (MLF)

One goal of professional development is to improve student achievement through improved teacher practice. The middle school philosophy, which supports the rationale that student learning is inextricably interwoven into the fabric of an active learning environment, contains many promising practices that "mirror" what is often considered to be high…

The purpose of this Annual School Progress Report is twofold: (1) to share information about the progress of Guam Public School System towards meeting education goals, which are embodied in the District Action Plan (DAP); and (2) to inform educators and the community at large about programs and activities that affect the quality of educational…

Addresses the sources of dissatisfaction from parents who had removed their children from public schools to begin home schooling. Implications for public schools' community relations and practice specifically focus on three areas of greatest concern: student grouping practices, peer relationships, and the extension of the school day via homework.…

Middle-level education has become a fixture in our educational system. This collection of essays provides the opportunity for readers to examine current policies, programs, and practices in light of recent developments at the middle level. Nine essays include: (1) "Why Middle Schools?" (Donald Eichhorn); (2) "Organizing Middle Level Schools To…

Educational policymakers in many countries have been and continue to be faced with the difficulty of reconciling the principle of equal educational opportunity for all students with the provision of differential programming for gifted students, which is often perceived as elitist. This dilemma mirrors the sociopolitical conflict between emphasis…

An introduction to a special focus issue on the relationship between general educational reform and special education, the article summarizes four national reports on excellence in education. Sections that address special education are identified, as well as related issues such as teacher preparation, grouping practices, and the use of…

This study examined two hypotheses related to same-gender grouping of eighth grade science classes in a public middle school setting. The hypotheses were (a) male and female students enrolled in same-gender science classes demonstrate more positive science academic achievement than their peers enrolled in mixed-gender classes, and (b) same-gender…

The article examines the omission of special education as a focus of concern in recent national reports and analyses concerned with excellence in education, including negative implications for low-achieving students and those currently receiving special services. The effect of current political and economic variables on educational trends is…