Despite the general consensus on the positive impact of formative assessment on student learning, researchers have not shown the underlying mechanisms between specific formative assessment strategies and academic performance on an international sample. This study examines the link between student and teacher reports of teachers' formative…

The 2017 Supreme Court ruling in "Endrew vs. Douglas County" charged educators to provide evidence toward the attainment of Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals beyond "de minimus" educational benefit. The purpose of this article is to present two methods that may be useful for supporting IEP teams in evaluating progress…

This manuscript offers an approach to secure needed SBMHS for students with disabilities through unique applications within the IEP development process, informed by an analysis of recent case law. We will discuss six components of this approach. First, the need for SBMHS must be established through evaluation data. Data sources to confirm the need…

This chapter describes possible effects of the 2017 "Endrew F." Supreme Court decision that raised the "de minimus" standard established in 1982 in "Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson School District v. Rowley." In Rowley, the court held school districts provided an appropriate education to students with…

This study aimed to investigate how data are used to inform instructional leadership practices in three Kuwaiti public schools, in addition to the factors that impact building data-use capacity. This study conducted three qualitative case studies in high-performing public schools. The findings reveal that data usage in the Kuwaiti schools…

The purpose of this paper is to present an assessment system that enables physical education programs to collect data capable of meeting their assessment. Assessment at the elementary level is a daunting task. Practitioners are charged to teach multiple objectives across all learning domains to hundreds of students in multiple grades in a limited…

The 2017 Supreme Court decision "Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District" highlighted the importance of monitoring students' progress toward appropriately challenging individualized educational program (IEP) annual goals and making changes to students' educational programs when needed. The process for setting an IEP goal should be…

In Germany, the implementation of the UNESCO Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for sustainable development (ESD) 2015-2019 aims to implement ESD more profoundly within the structures of Germany's educational system. In this context, a national monitoring has been set up in order to analyze the extent and quality of ESD implementation in…

Most states now have a statewide credential attainment goal, which sets targets for the number of residents with a postsecondary credential. These goals can help states to increase the educational levels of the adult population and address the workforce needs of the state. Unfortunately, many states may lack the capability to measure progress…

In their proposals to join the Math in Common (MiC) initiative, staff from each of the 10 participating districts acknowledged that the shifts required to implement the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M) (NGA Center & CCSSO, 2010) would be a huge lift for teachers. They knew that mathematics teachers would be required to take…

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) provides state education agencies (SEA) with more flexibility to rethink how to identify and address low school performance while elevating the role of local education agencies (LEAs) in supporting schools in need of improvement. As states pursue plans to support schools with the most need for…

Literacy skills lay the foundation upon which every individual's education rests. When a learner receives the necessary tools to develop strong language and literacy skills, he or she becomes able to achieve personal autonomy and pursue aspirations. Ohio is committed to supporting an education system that prioritizes the language and literacy…

In 2013, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) was enacted to replace the previous California school finance system. The purpose was to stream various funding sources (e.g., basic revenues, categorical funds, block grants) such that districts could engage in comprehensive planning to support all students. Additional monies designated for…

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), every state must develop a plan to provide a quality education to all students, hold schools accountable for how all students achieve, and identify and help schools that are struggling. It matters greatly how California designs its accountability system and supports school improvement. Getting this…

This special report -- informed by the Education Commission of the States' March 2018 School Improvement Thinkers Meeting -- guides state leaders toward a better understanding of how to improve lower-performing schools. This brief contains questions in four key areas to provide a road map for digging into school improvement systems and orienting…