The idea that validity should be considered a property of inferences, rather than of assessments, has developed slowly over the past century. In early writings about the validity of educational assessments, validity was defined as a property of an assessment. The most common definition was that an assessment was valid to the extent that it…

This book presents information about the condition of schools around the United States. It also describes the link between architecture and academic success and offers suggestions for improving the design of existing and future school buildings. Eleven articles look at schools as places of deep meaning and show how that view can alter approaches…

This paper presents findings of research that examined the effects of two recent educational reforms--restructuring to produce effective schools and mainstreaming students with disabilities into general classes. Specifically, the relationship between general- and special-education achievement to school-environment quality indicators in 56 southern…

In this qualitative study, the ways in which four ethnically diverse mothers' perceptions of early childhood education combined with the school experiences of their children were examined. Interviews with the four women, Mexican American, Korean American, African American, and Anglo, were recorded; school experiences were videotaped; and the…

This third edition of "Education at a Glance" presents a set of 49 international education indicators covering the 1991-92 school year. The publication of this set of indicators marks the completion of efforts begun in 1992 to develop a system for collecting, screening, and processing education statistics that would bring together…

In previous studies of educational systems, Markov chains have often been used in simulations in which history played no role because all events were described as independent of each other. Mono-level dynamics (i.e., the social context in which learning occurs is ignored) have also been applied to simulations. Educational theories, however, are…

Three generations of children have passed through the Baton Rouge (Louisiana) school system since the "Brown" decision (1954) and one generation since the federal court's 1981 desegregation order. The impact of school desegregation on African American children was studied in the East Baton Rouge School District. For the student body as a…

This paper focuses on the development of the school-review process as it has evolved in the New South Wales (NSW), Australia, Department of School Education. The paper describes the background and context of the NSW public school system, which has undergone devolved management structures, rapid societal changes, and professional collaboration. The…

This guidebook shows how schools can form partnerships with law-enforcement agencies and communities to develop a comprehensive safe-school plan. The planning guide is based on four principles: that safe schools are caring schools, are built through cooperative efforts of all stakeholders, communicate high standards, and stress prevention. This…

This book describes the development of individuals and a school that were involved in an action-research effort known as The Educational and Community Change (ECC) Project. Much of the book was written by the teachers and principal at Ochoa Elementary School in South Tucson, Arizona, which implemented the ECC project in 1990. Chapter 1 examines…

The quality of multimedia-based interaction is more the product of the way instruction is designed, and less the result of the system on which it is delivered. To fully exploit the capabilities of more powerful instructional technologies, designers must also reexamine the assumptions and expand the strategies employed in instructional design.…

To gather information on the experiences and expectations of students enrolled in summer courses, the Trumbull Campus of Kent State University, in Ohio, conducted a survey of 580 students enrolled during summer 1993. The survey gathered data on students' academic rank and major, reasons for taking summer classes, and satisfaction with campus…

This book focuses on a range of instructional practices that promote children's understanding and build meaning into their academic learning experience. Actual practices uncovered in a 2-year investigation of 140 classrooms in a variety of high-poverty school settings are described and analyzed in a comprehensive demonstration of what…

Three interdependent components--content, context, and methodology--are discussed as they relate to the teaching of African languages to non-native speakers. Content depends on type and availability of instructional materials, which may be quite limited. If textbooks are not available, the teacher must select from varied authentic materials and…

Presenting an update to the first Student Equity Plan (SEP) prepared by California's College of the Canyons in December 1993, this plan reviews research on the participation of underrepresented groups at the college and presents goals and activities for the period from 1996-98. Following an introduction, research conducted on student…