The purpose of this study was to evaluate Peer Group Connection-Middle School, a cross-age peer mentor program designed to enhance student retention and achievement during the transition from elementary to middle school. We present findings from an individual-level randomized controlled trial that included 1,902 sixth-grade students across three…

A qualitative approach was utilized in this study to examine four transition programs' best educational practices in building transition programs for eighth to ninth grade. An analysis of a retrospective study of the four transition programs provided data to support recommendations for best educational practices to build a transition program for…

The purpose of this program evaluation was to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized learning environment while analyzing the cultural changes a small school district faced as it transitioned to a new delivery model using individual technological devices. Findings for the study will be used to guide 1:1 Chromebook implementation initiatives…

The transition from 8th to 9th grade, from middle school to high school, is considered one of the most challenging experiences in an adolescent's life. Ninth-grade transition programs, often referred to as freshman academies, have been developed and implemented over the last decade to address the needs of 9th grade students. The purpose of this…

The purpose of this study was to understand how schools address two specific criteria of the Schools to Watch® (STW) program: Social equity and developmental responsiveness. Descriptions of replicable practices, program/school characteristics, and initiatives created by each of the STW sites in Pennsylvania were analyzed. The data also includes…

Provides a planning transition model for teachers of elementary and middle school. Describes the five essential components of the model: (1) developing a planning team; (2) generating goals and identifying problems; (3) developing written strategic plans; (4) acquiring the support and commitment of teachers; and (5) evaluating the transition…

This report describes the first year of a 3-year transitional bilingual program for Chinese, Japanese and Korean middle school students in the Torrance Unified School District. The program focused on four specific areas: student instruction, staff development, materials, and parent involvement/education. Project students, once identified, were…

An external evaluation of the Torrance (California) Unified School District's transitional bilingual education program for limited-English-speaking Chinese, Japanese, and Korean middle school students is reported. The project focused on four areas including: instruction; staff development, materials, and parent involvement and education. An…

Eight papers are presented to assist career resource teachers who are working with handicapped students to prepare them for transition from school to work. "In Their Own Words: Teachers Share Their Experiences in Working with Special Education Students" (Lewis Allen) describes the use of cooperative learning in English, electronics, and interior…

"Adelante...con Ganas!" (Forward...with Enthusiasm) was a 3-year transitional bilingual program implemented at Burbank Middle School in the Houston Independent School District (Texas). The program consisted of three levels of bilingual instruction, from preliterate through intermediate, in which students were placed following state and…

Two alternatives to retention in grade for secondary school students were evaluated in Austin (Texas). Both were designed to allow students who are potential retainees (PRs) to receive remediation in one semester. The Transitional Academic Program (TAP) allows PRs to enroll in ninth-grade courses while repeating eighth-grade courses they had…