This booklet provides an overview of Oklahoma's educational policy, highlighting historical efforts, current initiatives, future plans, and existing challenges to educational reform. It begins with a brief description of the demographics, economic status, and educational system of the state. A narrative is then provided that is organized around…

This paper presents New Jersey's standards for the required professional development of teachers as follows: (1) enhances subject content knowledge; (2) improves understanding of learners' academic, social, emotional, and physical needs and ensures that educators utilize appropriate teaching skills to enable students to meet or exceed their…

This paper describes the teacher inservice training that was developed as the result of a technology needs assessment at two elementary schools in Quebec. The workshop was developed as an initial vehicle for enabling teachers to incorporate technology into their teaching. The six days of the workshop are sketched, and the materials used in the…

This thematic unit was written by Michele Montas and Luz Cannon, middle school Spanish teachers, who were participants in a summer institute held at the National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center in 2001. The institute, called "Temas Anejos: Recurring Themes in Ancient and Modern Latin America," brought together a talented group of professors.…

This third volume looks at ways that seasoned professionals continue to develop throughout their careers. The text includes descriptive accounts of professionals seeking to enhance their careers while remaining inspired to continue to develop professionally. This volume reveals how personal and professional lives are entwined. It proves that TESOL…

On March 10, 2006, the National Education Association (NEA) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) joined forces and convened an Education Summit in Denver, Colorado. The purpose of the Summit was to have participants (mainly community activists) discuss and provide information and strategies as to how educators and policy makers…

This report summarizes AISD's activities supporting accelerated reading and math instruction for students in grades kindergarten through 4 during the 2003-2004 school year.

The Optional Extended Year Program (OEYP), funded by a grant from the state, provides extended learning opportunities for students in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) who are at risk of academic failure. The primary focus of an OEYP is to reduce and ultimately eliminate the need for student grade-level retention by providing additional…

Demographic trends suggest colleges and universities will be enrolling record numbers of foreign-born students, and must prepare to introduce this population to the distinctive practices and standards of American higher education. Suggestions include redesigning the orientation program, establishing strong English language instruction, improving…

Describes one university's Field Based Masters Program. Designed around intact cohorts of experienced teachers who meet weekly over two years, the program involves integrated curriculum and action research projects. The paper describes how group process and collaboration are integral to teachers' learning experiences and ongoing professional…

Kennesaw State College (Georgia) adopted an invitational approach to create an environment which encouraged and affirmed students, faculty, staff and administrators. A new institutional environment aimed at serving diverse, contemporary needs and involved commitment to shared governance, encouragement of leadership at all levels, community…

A survey of 43 intensive English-as-a-Second-Language programs in higher education institutions resulted in a scheme for classifying innovative policies and practices in these categories: curriculum development; personnel; technology; policy and planning; community and campus liaison; faculty development; student placement and evaluation;…

Thirty-three undergraduate and graduate students with learning disabilities (LD), aged 16-56, from five colleges and universities who participated in focus groups identified five beneficial services, skills, and accommodations beneficial to LD students: coursework accommodations; testing accommodations; LD staff; peer support groups; tutors. Other…

This longitudinal case study focused on the learning trajectories of two novice bilingual education teachers in urban schools. The changes in and relationships between the teachers' knowledge, beliefs, and interactive thinking about teaching culturally diverse learners was traced. Results have implications for the design of teacher education…

This article summarizes the effects of NCLB on school districts based on four years of evaluations conducted by the Center on Education Policy as part of the most comprehensive and continuous overview being undertaken of that policy.