The diagonal line in Arkansas separating academic and economic strivers from those less likely to make the grade--and then land a decent job--runs roughly from Texarkana in the southwest to Blytheville in northeast. "The wealthiest people live above that line," said Dr. James Jennings, a history professor and education department…

Five years ago, Hewetson Elementary School was rated one of the lowest performing schools in Nevada. Yet despite its many challenges, Hewetson was named an Exemplary Turn Around School for the 2009-2010 school year, the highest academic designation for Nevada schools. This success is the result of transforming the school from a low-achieving…

The San Jose State University Electrical Engineering (EE) Department implemented a skill audit exam for graduating seniors in 1999 with the purpose of assessing the teaching and the students' mastery of core concepts in EE. However, consistent low scores for the first years in which the test was administered suggested that students had little…

This study investigated the differences between demographic, enrollment, academic, and self-directed learning characteristics of completers and noncompleters in online courses at one community college. The study also obtained students' self-reported reasons for not completing their coursework. No significant differences were found in the…

States significantly increased buy-in from local teachers' unions in round two of the Race to the Top competition, but made far less progress in enlisting districts or expanding the number of students affected by the states' education reform plans. Those patterns emerged from an "Education Week" analysis of applications from 29 states…

Although school performance feedback is available in schools all over the world, there is a dearth of information about the use made of feedback and about the effects of its use. This paper presents case study research into the use of school performance feedback and its perceived effects. All schools used the feedback in writing school improvement…

This study considered whether participation in a rigorous, intense summer bridge program had a significant effect on the academic success of African-American male and female students in developmental education, compared to nonparticipants, at a four-year Historically Black University in terms of retention, progression, and graduation from…

Teacher working conditions surveys provide biennial, comprehensive data regarding school leadership. This case describes how a Title I middle school principal proactively addresses end-of-year data to address identified needs and growth areas in a collaborative manner in her middle school. The principal works in a concerted manner with an…

Healthy learning environments for young people are underpinned by respectful relationships. Unfortunately, Australian students who do not form reasonable relationships with peers and staff are unlikely to benefit from being at school. These students tend to disengage and are often excluded. However, a growing number of Australian schools have…

This article aims to illustrate a school self-evaluation project implemented in three Cyprus primary schools. The project adopted three theoretical assumptions, namely, an orientation towards school improvement, a participatory school-level approach allowing support from a critical friend and a focus on effective teaching. In line with a…

This report presents an assessment of the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and the new Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP) by the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA), along with recommendations to help improve FFELP and FDLP. It found that congressional priorities and the…

A study was conducted by Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), in North Carolina, to determine the perceptions of employers of CPCC graduates regarding the graduates' level of preparation. Questionnaires were sent to 160 employers who had CPCC graduates in positions related to their graduates' academic programs and for whom graduates had…

This report summarizes and evaluates seven seminars conducted for the Vocational Education Project in China during 1992. For each of the seven seminars, a report prepared by the specialists conducting the seminar is provided. These reports summarize the content of the seminar, note any problems encountered in conducting them, and suggest ways in…

A study compared student participation and program features in high school vocational education programs in school year 1993-94 (after enactment of Perkins amendments) with 1990-91 (before enactment). Questionnaires were mailed to a nationally representative sample of public secondary schools and their associated central district offices in two…

In order to better understand and care for children from a variety of backgrounds in a multicultural environment area, the Manitoba Child Care Association (MCCA) conducted a survey project concerning the incorporation of multiculturalism into child care centers' programs and the future directions of their support resources and funding. The project…