Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in the perception of the presence of the 5 attributes of a learning organization between site leaders and teachers. Senge (1990) used the 5 areas of mental models, personal mastery, shared vision, team learning, and systems thinking to describe the necessary…

This special report -- informed by the Education Commission of the States' March 2018 School Improvement Thinkers Meeting -- guides state leaders toward a better understanding of how to improve lower-performing schools. This brief contains questions in four key areas to provide a road map for digging into school improvement systems and orienting…

In this multiple case study, I asked ten practicing secondary educators in the Midwest to express the purposes and practices that drive their teaching regarding climate change education. The theoretical framework grounding this qualitative study is that of critical theory, in which one leverages critique to bring about social change. I analyzed…

While teachers recognize the importance of technology integration into the classroom, they require training, support, and resources to do so effectively. This action research dissertation focuses on the resources necessary to provide teacher technology training at a private elementary school. It reports on the final evaluation stage of the…

Over the last five years, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) is requiring states to provide more and better evidence supporting the quality and validity of their assessment and accountability systems. Notably, states are asked to explain more fully how the proposed design of their systems will provide accurate and reliable information that…

On June 25 and 26, 2018, 211 STEM education leaders, 176 of whom were representatives from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and several tribal territories, gathered in Washington, D.C. for the first State-Federal STEM Summit. On Day 2 of the Summit, these…

Efficient and effective student-centered instructional elements could potentially streamline educational processes and still produce competent professionals. However, successful implementation of technology-enriched courses that exceed course design standards and meet learners' needs is limited by contextual interactions of the course designer's…

The purpose of this paper is to examine the practices of formative assessment in the West Arsi zone secondary schools in Ethiopia. A descriptive cross-sectional survey research design was employed. The study participants were secondary school supervisors, principals, teachers, and students. Questionnaires, interviews, observations, and document…

Transition for students with disabilities has been the focus of educational policies for several decades. Still, students with disabilities, including those with a specific learning disability (SLD), continue to experience difficulties transitioning to post-school environments, particularly post-secondary education (PSE). The Individuals with…

When facilitating large-scale instructional change, leaders face stakeholder tensions that arise from different institutional pressures. Over the past 4 years, we have created an innovative "live" case competition in a strategic management course as our college's signature undergraduate experiential learning opportunity. This case has…

Despite broad consensus that a research-to-practice gap exists in the education of students with autism, the extent of this gap has not been well studied. We surveyed 99 teachers in Ohio about their highest priority goals for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), their approach for addressing these goals, the degree to which students had…

This study explored ways in which the arts could be infused into the day-to-day practices of special education teachers and paraeducators to support them in addressing Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals. This study further explored the impact of positive or negative help from teachers, nurses and paraeducators on student engagement. Due to…

Many special educators seek opportunities to learn more and to make systemwide changes. These educators, however, may not know what else to do or where else to look for answers to challenges they experience within their current roles and settings. Rather than continuing to search for answers within their current position, some special educators…

Although the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS Lead States 2013) were released over two years ago, misconceptions about what they are--and are not--persist. The "NGSS" provide for consistent science education opportunities for all students--regardless of demographics--with a level of rigor expected in every location and…

Individualized programmes for gifted students are one of the ways in which curricula can be adapted to take account of the identified educational needs of gifted students. Planning is a key phase in ensuring that these programmes are carried out in a high-quality manner. This article explores the challenges faced in the planning of individualized…