The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement's January 2007 newsletter, "A Teacher's Guide to Differentiating Instruction," [ED495740] summarized the following four planning stages teachers can use to effectively differentiate instruction: (1) A thorough understanding of content; (2) Use of preassessments and regular formative…

With increasing alarm at the number of high school dropouts across the United States, educators are seeking ways to help students stay in school, graduate, and move on to meaningful and productive careers. Recent research points out that a smooth transition to ninth grade can contribute to students' success in high school and beyond. This…

A key section of the report "Foundations for Success: The Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel" focuses on "Teachers and Teacher Education." The panel found that differences in teacher attributes contributed to differences in the mathematics achievement of their students. One panel recommendation that is central to improved…

Leadership is crucial for effective, lasting school improvement. Although research has established that strong, competent principals are vital for high-performing schools (Hallinger, 2003; Leithwood, 1994), attention is turning increasingly to the importance of effective district leadership, including school boards and their contributions to…

School improvement might be initiated by state or district mandate, or it might be motivated by the concerns of school personnel. Teachers and administrators frequently enter the process with some idea of what needs to be reformed or improved, but issues can be overemphasized or overlooked if the process does not begin with a comprehensive needs…

This newsletter summarizes an IES practice guide titled "Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning," which aims to supplement and inform teachers' instincts and experiences by identifying research-based instructional strategies that teachers of all content areas can use to improve student learning. The practice guide makes seven…