In this article, the author discusses AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a program that enrolls the students who are most frequently marginalized in rigorous classes to prepare them for postsecondary education. The best predictor of success or failure in postsecondary education is the intensity and quality of secondary school…

The Commissioner's annual report provides the Legislature with information reported by school districts concerning incidents of serious student misconduct grouped into the following four major reporting categories: violence, vandalism, weapons, and substance abuse. An analysis of trends yields indications of progress and of ongoing concern, and…

The New York edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's (NCTQ's) 2009 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" is the third annual look at state policies impacting the teaching profession. It is hoped that this report will help focus attention on areas where state policymakers can make changes that will have a positive impact on teacher…

Many young people in the District of Columbia are failing to make a successful transition to adulthood. Their challenges include poor preparation for the high-skills labor market and long-standing health problems. Recent District government efforts have centered around school reform and early childhood, but these areas are not sufficient to…

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the Missouri Department of Higher Education present this FY2009 Annual Report to inform individuals of the state's status and progress in higher education. This year's shortened format is intended to provide a snapshot of how Missouri measures up in the goals outlined by the state's coordinated plan…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose and demonstrate an evidence-based scenario design framework for assessment-based computer games. Design/methodology/approach: The evidence-based scenario design framework is presented and demonstrated by using BELLA, a new assessment-based gaming environment aimed at supporting student learning of…

For the 12th year, a national survey of changes in the academic and administrative practices of American colleges and universities was undertaken. Senior administrators at 407 colleges and universities completed and returned survey questionnaires (80 percent of a sample of 506). Responses were statistically weighted so that results were…

This practicum identified the problem of inconsistent use of developmentally appropriate practices by staff in an early childhood center and implemented an inservice program to increase the use of activities based on individual appropriateness rather than on age alone. The solution strategy utilized a self-assessment survey of classroom practices…

Middle school students were determined to be unaware of and unprepared for the requirements of the real world of work. They were unable to identify careers they were interested in pursuing nor did they understand the importance training plays in being successful in future careers. This practicum report discusses solutions for middle school…

A study was conducted to identify institutional effectiveness measures for different mission areas of Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona, by defining appropriate student cohorts and outcomes indicators. Cohorts and outcomes indicators were considered for the following community college mission areas: (1) access, demonstrated by comparing all…

This packet includes reprints of journal articles and other resources concerning the assessment of science and math in small, rural elementary schools. Articles include: (1) "Standards, Assessment, and Educational Quality" (Lauren B. Resnick); (2) "A True Test: Toward More Authentic and Equitable Assessment" (Grant Wiggins);…

This study was carried out in Hong Kong to determine: (1) if the aims and objectives identified by various groups of students reflect those set out in official course prescriptions; (2) in what ways these aims are similar; and (3) in what ways they are different from officially stated course prescriptions. Participants included a group of 58…

This instructor's manual and resource package are intended to aid teachers in teaching a basic framework of knowledge in the areas of agricultural production and record keeping. The manual contains the following items: upfront pages (content information and information on measuring student performance gains, required criteria for a…

This student workbook is intended to be used by secondary students in a basic course in agricultural production and recordkeeping. The student workbook contains the following items for each of the 22 units of the course: objective sheets, information sheets, assignment sheets, and job sheets. Objective sheets include an introduction,…

The Community Achievement Project in the Schools (CAPS) is a public-private partnership between the United Way of New York City and the New York City Board of Education. As part of a dropout prevention initiative, CAPS is designed to integrate the services of community-based organizations and schools. The Teachers College of Columbia University…