An overview is presented of research studies that reflect the realities that exist in elementary and secondary public education. Explorations of school culture cite behavioral and programmatic regularities that make up the school culture and the importance of school principals' roles. Focusing on the teachers and the ways things actually get done…

This report summarizes the findings of the Louisiana School Effectiveness study, designed to identify school level attitudes and behaviors which predict students' achievement. Principals, teachers, and students in 76 schools with third grade classrooms responded to school climate questionnaires. Data for the students also included scores on the…

This report details the methodology and findings of the Louisiana School Effectiveness study, designed to identify school level attitudes and behaviors which predict students' achievement. Principals, teachers, and students in 76 schools with third grade classrooms responded to school climate questionnaires. Data for the students also included…

Examines defacto segregated education for Native American students as it exists in rural schools. Uses the programs at Mohawk and Salmon River Schools to illustrate effective practices and notes the role played by parents and community participation, planned transition, and teacher commitment. (JHZ)

Across the country, states are pushing to close their small rural schools with the mistaken hope of saving money, in spite of overwhelming evidence that smaller schools are beneficial for students, and that they frequently function as the glue that binds together small communities, serving as their economic and social hub. The battle is even more…

Significantly, job satisfaction and motivation are very essential to the continuing growth of educational systems around the world and they rank alongside professional knowledge and skills, center competencies, educational resources as well as strategies, in genuinely determining educational success and performance. This study assessed the…

In 2001-02, the Queensland Indigenous Education Consultative Body conducted seven research projects examining Indigenous educational policies and strategies. Qualitative and quantitative methods included literature reviews; academic data collection; and interviews and focus groups with Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, parents, community…

This report describes a study conducted to determine if there were any applicable effects from private-school competition on public-school student achievement in North Carolina. The study examined multiple student outcomes, including elementary and secondary student achievement results, student dropout rates, and high school student achievement…

This volume provides a collection of research that documents the effectiveness of 50 strategies for improving student learning and schoolwide performance. Much of the research, and resulting strategies cited here, was prompted by No Child Left Behind. The 50 strategies address the following topics: basic education; best pedagogical practices;…

This issue looks at the different ways in which British providers of postsecondary education can weigh the quality of their provision to inform and shape improvements. The articles aim to provide a feel for current practice in internal evaluation to improve quality and to get providers thinking about some ways in which they can collect and use…

A comparative study of early school leaving in India, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States found that in spite of huge cultural and economic differences between these countries, there were common underlying causes of the school dropout problem. Economic need, sociocultural divisions, curricula that were unrelated to future work and…

Two-year colleges represent such diversity of type and structure that they must be understood on a state-by-state basis. Massive educational changes will undoubtedly take place in today's era of turbulence. Several issues must be examined in the development of community colleges. Colleges must shift from the historical paradigm of…

This study shows the relationship between English language proficiency and achievement. A consistent pattern is demonstrated that the English proficiency level of English as a second language (ESL) students can predict student performance on state measures --the high stakes Texas Educational Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS). TAAS is a…

This paper explores two questions: (1) Do private schools produce greater academic achievement or attainment than public schools? and (2) Does this evidence provide guidance on the potential impact of voucher plans? Based on recent experimental evidence, it finds that Catholic elementary schools have modest effects on the mathematics achievement…

One of the critical elements of effective schools developed as a result of recent reform efforts and restructuring processes was the concept of learning communities and learning circles. This short paper discusses learning communities and learning circles. It defines learning communities as "a fellowship of learners in which the teachers in a…