This curriculum packet of teacher-developed lesson plans, intended for use with students in middle and/or high schools, focuses on student involvement in community projects. The first lesson plan, "Physics Park" (Scott McQuerry), aims for students to construct a playground and the examine the physics behind the playground's equipment. Students use…

This paper explains how, in 2001, failing rates on the writing and oral sections of the first Language Proficiency Assessment Test for Hong Kong's inservice or prospective English teachers shocked the Education Department and the public, creating general concern about failing English standards among Hong Kong students. Government officials and…

Intended for parents as a companion to the Alberta Curriculum Guides, this summary uses an "at a glance" schematic to list the curricular goals for Kindergarten in Alberta. In addition to English language arts and mathematics, the goals cover creative and cultural expression, physical skills and well-being, personal and social…

These Louisiana state social studies model lessons, developed and written with the assumption that the lessons would be presented by teachers who are certified in the content areas, are designed to be student driven instruction, is inquiry- and performance-based, and assessment is meaningful and authentic. The lessons focus on understanding…

Research shows that teacher quality affects student achievement more greatly than any other school-based variable. The No Child Left Behind Act requires a "highly qualified" teacher in every classroom by the 2005-2006 school year and achievement gains by all students over time. These realities give policymakers a strong incentive to focus on…

Curricular goals that traditionally focused on the delivery of the teaching rather than the outcomes of the learning are in a state of major transition. Implementation of academic standards requires the application of content and not merely its delivery. As a result, colleges of education must prepare anew genre of teacher leaders equipped to…

The Urban Systemic Initiatives (USI) program is an effort sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that targets large urban school systems with the goal of sustainable implementation of high-quality, standards-based teaching for the purpose of attaining system-wide increases in students' learning of challenging mathematics and science.…

This paper examines issues related to alternative teacher certification, discussing teacher certification in Texas and noting that most researchers agree that both traditional and alternative routes to teacher preparation need improvement. For over a decade, alternative certification has become increasingly available in Texas. This paper…

The primary objective of this study was to investigate overall patterns of gender differences and similarities of test performance in mathematics. To achieve that objective, observed test scores on the Delaware standards-based assessment were analyzed to examine: (1) gender differences and similarities across grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 over 2 years;…

This curriculum framework is intended to serve as a comprehensive guide for redesigning curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development around the new Colorado state model of content standards for K-12 geography education. The framework enumerates strategies and ideas for implementing the new standards at the district, school,…

This report discusses the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that require states to develop alternate assessments for students with disabilities who cannot participate in large-scale assessment programs. The report also profiles five state alternate assessment practices that have been developed or are emerging and…

Social studies as a field of study embodies the essence of humankind (where people live, how they are organized, how they change, and how they prosper). This South Carolina social studies framework is based on the statement: "An educated citizenry is the key to a successful democratic society. Therefore, it is imperative that South…

Educating students in the arts provides benefits not available through any other means. This guide to essential learning requirements for the arts for Washington state students defines the arts as creative expressions using sound, image, action, and movement. The guide explains that the arts help students to develop intellectual, social, personal,…

Field trials were conducted to test rating methods and the impact of feedback about consequences for the 1998 achievement levels-setting (ALS) process for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The field trials provided the opportunity to try out different methods similar to those used successfully by others, as well as to try out…

This document consists of articles 1-20 published in the electronic journal "Educational Policy Analysis Archives" for the year 1999: (1) "Ethnic Segregation in Arizona Charter Schools" (Casey D. Cobb and Gene V. Glass); (2) "Educational Research in Latin America: A Response to Akkari and Perez" (Mariano Narodowski);…