This summary reports the key findings of a multi-year evaluation of the Cities in Schools (CIS) program, a school-based intervention for at-risk youth. Cities in Schools Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that provides training and technical assistance to promote replication of the CIS dropout prevention process in communities and schools. The…

This synopsis presents the key findings from a multi-year evaluation of the Cities in Schools (CIS) program, a school-based intervention for at-risk youth. Cities in Schools, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that provides training and technical assistance to promote replication of the CIS dropout prevention process in communities and schools. The…

As all educators face the pressures of accountability, it has become more important to hire effective teachers skilled at fostering outstanding academic achievement. This book is designed to provide both school administrators and teachers with information and inspiration about what goes into being an effective teacher. Chapter 1 describes a…

This report summarizes the expectations, mission, guiding principles, standards, assessments, and time line for standards implementation for the state of Hawai'i. Implementation was scheduled for completion by August 2000. A technical reference matrix tracks the development of the assessment and accountability system. The completion of specific…

During the 1993 session, the Nevada State Legislature passed a School Accountability bill (NRS 385.347 revised), which required all school districts in the state to inform the public on the performance of public schools. School accountability is accomplished through a system of reports to the public and the State Board of Education. Each year the…

The focus of most analysts involved in education reform seems to be whether charter schools are successful. This paper identifies 53 research-based studies that draw mainly objective conclusions based on evaluation of data. Literally, hundreds of policy papers, study articles, and analyses have been written on the charter-school phenomenon, an…

This report contains seven articles on current issues in higher education and a separate faculty salary report for 1999-2000. Articles on the "Status of the Profession" are: (1) "Faculty Salaries, 1999-2000" (Suzanne B. Clery and John B. Lee); (2) "Unions and Faculty Governance" (Christine Maitland and Gary Rhoades);…

In February 2000, the Connecticut Department of Higher Education reported on accountability measures for higher education developed by the Higher Education Coordinating Council in response to the requirements of Public Act 99-285. That report identified 180 accountability measures for higher education. A copy of the executive summary of that…

First Things First is a comprehensive intervention to transform low-performing public schools with high percentages of non-White and at-risk students. It encompasses major changes in school structure, instruction, and accountability and governance. The program model, which is grounded both in research and the best practices of schools serving…

Walters State Community College (WSCC) (Tennessee), founded in 1970, began participating in Tennessee's Performance Funding Project in 1979. Changes made in the state funding formula in 1979 were intended to provide an impetus for improving the quality of education on Tennessee's college campuses. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC)…

This multimedia package, which contains two audio CDs and a short informative booklet, examines the use of assessment to improve teaching and learning. The booklet contains the essay "Assessment-Driven Reform: A Leadership Approach" (Rhetta L. Detrich with Ed Janus and Sabrina W. M. Laine). It discusses the increasing importance of…

This testimony highlights two components of the 1998 amendments to the Higher Education Act (which were intended to enhance the quality of classroom teaching by improving training programs for prospective teachers and qualifications of current teachers). One component provides grants, and another, called the "accountability provisions," requires…

This study investigated community organizing for school reform in eight urban sites. The organizing involved intentional building of power among parents, youth, and community residents in low-income communities of color. Researchers surveyed 66 organizing groups and interviewed a subgroup of organizations. Overall, most groups defined their…

Almost half of Latino students in higher education are enrolled at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). While there is documentation of Latino participation in higher education, there is little research focused on Latino student success. One approach to study Latino student success is to focus on these institutions. This Brief describes the…

Achievement testing is the centerpiece of the state accountability systems mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Accordingly, the public attention directed towards achievement scores has largely eclipsed the crucial role that graduation rates play in NCLB accountability, at least until recently. As a new body of research on…