This study explored the extent to which current adequate yearly progress (AYP) indices reflect real change or a statistical artifact. The objective, in more specific terms, was to investigate regression artifacts in evaluating schools' academic progress and explore methods to overcome their effects in developing AYP measures. Schools in Kentucky…

Kentucky is one of 27 states selected to participate in Carnegie's grant-sponsored Middle Grade Schools State Policy Initiative. This publication offers a blueprint for change in Kentucky's middle grades. Data were collected through surveys of: (1) a total of 214 administrators, 909 teachers, 878 parents, and 1,047 students at 228 Kentucky…

This paper examines school, family, and community factors related to the academic success of economically disadvantaged Appalachian students. In two middle schools in Appalachian Kentucky and Tennessee, 245 students who received free or reduced-price school lunches completed the Rural School Success Inventory (RSSI) and a writing sample about…

While the appropriate duties of elementary and secondary school counselors have been well defined by various professional organizations, these duties remain unclear in the middle school level. This study was conducted to examine the perceptions of teachers, administrators, parents, and students in grades six through eight concerning the…

A middle school reform initiative, sponsored by the Program for Disadvantaged Youth of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation 4 years ago, has taken hold in 12 urban middle schools nationwide. The article discusses that reform, noting the lessons about change to accommodate student diversity that urban middle schools can teach. (SM)

Presents the development of a five-month on-line collaboration between Jenny Davis, a published writer, and eight junior high school girls at a Covington, Kentucky school. Describes the process of establishing rapport between author and students as she helped them with their writing. Provides excerpts of e-mail exchanges between the participants,…

This paper describes the context of education at two Appalachian middle schools and examines family, community, and school factors related to the academic success of economically disadvantaged and middle-class students. The 429 students at two rural middle schools in Appalachian Kentucky and Tennessee were assigned to low socioeconomic status…

One of several booklets focusing on the development of different components of a career education program, this guide is intended to direct personnel in local school systems in the development of a summer career education exploration for seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students. In a question/answer format, the document defines the program,…

A study examined the level of acceptance of 43 junior high/high school teachers of modular instruction techniques in technology education programs in Kentucky. Data revealed that teachers have mixed reactions to modular instruction. (JOW)

A research study investigated Kentucky middle school students' knowledge of career options available to them and the implementation of career education at the middle school level. A sample of 236 students from 11 middle schools throughout the state were interviewed for the research during the 1990-91 school year. Some of the findings of the study…

To determine the impact of the middle/junior high level Practical Arts Program from the Kentucky State Department of Education, an experimental/control group design was used in testing students at two junior high schools. The Career Maturity Inventory (CMI) and the School Sentiment Index (SSI) were administered, pre- and posttest, to measure…

Comprehensive work experience and vocational guidance activities were established at the middle school level and their effects on career maturity and attitudes toward school of ninth graders were tested. The project was conducted at the Bowling Green Junior High School (Kentucky) during the academic school year of 1975-76. (The school supports a…

This paper reports on a research project to identify school program criteria producing the highest teacher stress levels for three new middle schools. The middle-school environment embodies specific concepts endemic to educating adolescents. The new middle schools opened with teachers who were unfamiliar with both middle-school concepts and with…

A study surveyed independent reading habits and identified causal factors related to the decline in independent reading from middle school to college. Subjects, 100 students enrolled in a developmental reading course at a state-supported university in Kentucky, completed a 19-item survey instrument. A second survey was developed due to the results…

Describes how to determine to what extent mathematics standards are addressed in curriculum materials and discusses some important characteristics of new as well as traditional mathematics materials. Summarizes how a group of Kentucky mathematics teachers used the analysis procedure in their state textbook-adoption process. (ASK)