This paper describes Ohio's progress in implementing a comprehensive and coherent approach to education reform from the time of application through June 30, 2011. The sections presented in this report highlight key accomplishments made by Ohio to implement a comprehensive and coherent approach to education reform over the reporting period in the…

This paper describes Rhode Island's progress in implementing a comprehensive and coherent approach to education reform from the time of application through June 30, 2011. In particular, this report highlights key accomplishments over the reporting period in the four reform areas: standards and assessments, data systems to support instruction,…

This paper describes Tennessee's progress in implementing a comprehensive and coherent approach to education reform from the time of application through June 30, 2011. In particular, this report highlights key accomplishments over the reporting period in the four reform areas: standards and assessments, data systems to support instruction, great…

Would large-scale, free-market reforms improve educational outcomes for American children? That question cannot be answered by looking at domestic evidence alone. Though innumerable "school choice" programs have been implemented around the United States, none has created a truly free and competitive education marketplace. Existing…

To date, knowledge of English in Latin America has reflected existing political and economic power structures. It has remained the preserve of the elite with access to private schooling, and as such it demarcates and divides social groups by reinforcing an unequal distribution of wealth, resources, and knowledge. However, the number of people…

Since 1996, the Center for Education Reform has released an annual report card, grading each state's charter school legislation and labeling as the "strongest" those laws placing the fewest and slightest restrictions on charter schools. While the Center for Education Reform rankings have undoubtedly been the most influential, at least four other…

The preoccupation with choice between public and private schools offered under voucher programs obscures the greater problem of a lack of variety in the present educational system. If providing a greater variety of school structures and improving the educational system is the objective, competition between the public and private sectors will not…

A large body of literature examines the effects of goal setting on performance. However, relative to the amount of research examining the goal setting-performance relationship, there has been little investigation of dispositional influences on goal commitment. Understanding why people become committed to goals is important because commitment is a…

In nonpolicy debate, the affirmative speakers must demonstrate the probable truth of a resolution. Successful formats for affirmative cases include (1) generic analysis, (2) example analysis, (3) R. J. Matlon's definitive/designative format, (4) J. Chesebro's criteria approach, and (5) "should" resolution affirmatives. In generic…

To gain insight into whether debate judges actually do treat impromptu speaking as miniextemporaneous speaking, a study compared the comments judges wrote to extemporaneous speakers with those they wrote to impromptu speakers during the first two rounds of a forensic tournament. Approximately 1,000 comments from 152 ballots (102 impromptu and 50…

Previous laboratory research has found that people take more personal responsibility for their performance following success than failure. To extend these findings of a self-serving bias to real-world competitive settings, two field studies were conducted, one with 27 intramural basketball teams and one with 20 pairs of squash players. Players…

This book explains how to develop the positive outlook that turns "ordinary" competitors into winners whether they are on the playing field or off. With examples from real life, ways are pointed out to focus one's commitment, overcome obstacles to excellence, and achieve greater overall personal and professional satisfaction. Written by a former…

The purpose of this bibliography is to give coaches a better understanding of what determines competitive stress in athletes and of how this anxiety relates to performance. Research and studies pertaining to factors related to pregame and postgame competitive stress were investigated as well as the validity and reliability of tests used to measure…

Deci and Ryan's (1975, 1980) cognitive evaluation theory viewed intrinsic motivation as a function of perceived competence and personal causation. Deci and Ryan also proposed that people tend to perceive competitive situations as controlling. Gender differences were used by Deci and Olson (1989) to explain the findings by Ryan and Deci (1986) that…

The American Newspaper Association's 1986 compilation of 45 newspaper antitrust actions filed since 1980 revealed that the majority of antitrust actions during that period involved disputes over advertising practices. The federal government was virtually absent in its enforcement of antitrust laws against newspapers. About one-third of the…