This study examined the beliefs and practices of three principals during whose tenure their high-poverty urban elementary schools experienced improved student achievement. A two-stage, multiple case-study methodology was employed. First, New York State Education Department (NYSED) school report card data were analyzed to identify case-study sites.…

Many teachers fear that their chances to influence decisions about their profession are eroding. Principals must change this perception so that teachers feel empowered as school leaders. Drawing on the work of communications consultant William Isaacs, Glover discusses how principals can engage in communication that encourages teacher leadership by…

The article focuses on Fraser Institute's (Vancouver, British Columbia) "Report Card on Elementary Schools in British Columbia." The rating of a school is based on reading, writing, and numeracy levels for both Grade 4 and Grade 7 students, gender differences in reading and numeracy in Grade 7, and the percentage of students not meeting…

A study examined teachers' training, practices, and values for using the report card to communicate their knowledge of students' literacy achievement. Subjects, 48 elementary, middle, secondary, and college preparatory teachers from 10 school districts in 5 states, completed a questionnaire designed to elicit teachers' perspectives on the report…

Report-card marking items by which elementary school students' noncognitive classroom behaviors are graded were studied to establish a preliminary classification of behavioral assessment domains. Two studies were conducted. The first study employed a cluster-analytic approach to a pool of 136 noncognitive behavior-marking items that had been…

Data from 202 out of 311 surveyed school districts in Arkansas were collected to assess the congruence of course content guides, developed under administrative mandate by the school districts, with associated parental reporting forms. The guides outline skills associated with three instructional/skill levels--basic, developmental, and…

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE IS PRESENTED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS WHO WISH TO EVALUATE THE PROGRESS OF THEIR MENTALLY RETARDED PUPILS. PUPIL FOLDERS, ANECDOTAL RECORDS, DAILY PERFORMANCE, AND CUMULATIVE RECORDS ARE DESCRIBED. THE SPECIAL GRADING SYSTEM IS EXPLAINED, AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR GRADING ARE PROVIDED. THE PROGRESS REPORT SECTION LISTS…

An evaluation among parents and teachers of an Experimental Progress Report Card was conducted. The study was carried out in eight elementary schools where the Report had been used to report student performance during the 1971-72 school year. A total of 53 teachers and 38 parents were included in the inquiry. Responses of both teachers and parents…

Presents questions to consider when selecting a computer gradebook program. Questions cover (1) attendance, (2) academic progress, (3) reports, (4) design features, and (5) customer support. (CH)

A teacher discusses the transition from building-level autonomy to unilateral decision making by the central office in her school district. She points out how this change became a step backward for the school. (MD)

It is difficult to know the information that should be included on state report cards to enable comparisons among school districts and among different states. There may be many problems with such report cards, ranging from the possibility of computer error to the chance of reporting test scores that are not reliable or valid or the use of tests…

This book presents viable alternatives to classroom grading, explaining how to design grading systems that are both precise and efficient. It provides educators with a thorough grounding in grading research and theory. After clarifying the basic purposes of grades, the book discusses what should be included in them, how to use a rubric-based…

The New York State School Report Card is an important part of the state's efforts to raise learning standards for all students. This guide provides an overview of the changes for the year 2000, answers to frequently asked questions, and descriptions of the state's testing program and other performance measures. This document focuses on questions…

Tells how school boards can foster report card reform through the development of wise policy. (Author)

Used data from a state report card to determine which variables characterize bivariate and multivariate relationships between school quality indicator variables and academic status in high and low socioeconomic status schools and high and low achievement schools. Data from 1,319 schools provide information that may help meet the needs of at-risk…