Initially, when discussing how to best approach the issue of examining the PT3 (Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology) projects in the context of professional development schools or K-12 collaboration, these authors first had to define what they considered to be a partnership between a college of education and a K-12 school. The concept…

Gender-equity goals in Cambodia are intimately linked with socio-economic and cultural biases that are embedded in the very system of education and in the society as a whole. There are, however, strong indicators that the vicious cycle in Cambodia's education system could be broken, and here the commitment of key stakeholders and partnership modes…

Schools in 47 high-poverty school districts located mostly along the Atlantic Coast of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia may have a head start on new requirements of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, thanks to a $6 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Begun in April 2000, the five-year Coastal Rural Systemic…

Despite many accomplishments and a widely-praised system, there remain significant challenges to address in higher education in Virginia: (1) Although the state performs well in six-year graduation rates for bachelor degree programs, graduation rates at specific four-year institutions range from the very high end of the spectrum to the very low;…

This issue focuses on practices that can help improve reading instruction and includes two announcements from Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL). It begins with a look at study groups, the practice of teachers getting together to focus on instructional practices and student learning. Stacey Joyner, a staff member of SEDL's Texas…

Improving education outcomes is vital for achieving convergence with GDP per capita levels in Western European countries and for reducing income inequality. While some education outcomes are favourable, such as the low secondary-school drop-out rate, others have room for improvement: education achievement is below the OECD average and strongly…

(Purpose) The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of classroom sound field amplification on communication in kindergarten through grade 3 classrooms. (Methodology) Sixty classrooms were involved in the study; half of the classrooms were provided with sound field amplification. The flow of communication was measured through…

Smart Start (North Carolina) playground improvement grants were awarded to cover playground safety assessment, planning and evaluation, quality enhancements (such as fencing, surfacing, and new equipment), and safety programs. Visual inspections were conducted of the safety of child care home and center playgrounds after Smart Start-sponsored…

Research show that one in five U.S. schools has indoor air quality (IAQ) problems; 36 percent have inadequate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; and there appears to be a correlation between IAQs and the proportion of a school's students coming from low-income households. This report examines the IAQ issue in U.S. public…

Computers and other technological innovations are becoming a greater part of today's educational system requiring educational facility designers to plan for their use when designing or renovating new buildings. This booklet considers the building needs for accommodating new technology, particularly focusing on the impact of personal computers and…

Nationwide, the condition of school facilities is declining, yet funding for school renovation and new construction is difficult to obtain. As many states are now taking increasing responsibility for funding their educational facilities, options are being sought. This publication identifies the major decision points for policymakers addressing…

The Florida Department of Education is monitoring the energy use of two adjacent portable classrooms to compare their energy efficiency in a hot and humid climate and determine if they can be made more energy efficient either by retrofit or when the portables were constructed. This report provides the background of this research and describes the…

Florida has recently completed a survey of energy use and related physical and operational characteristics of the state's public schools. This report presents results from 1,298 surveys received (680 providing matching utility data) revealing that total energy costs for the Florida school system totaled $205 million in 1995. Other data show that…

Findings of a study that determined the physical conditions of Minnesota's public school buildings 50 years and older are presented in this report. Data were obtained from a survey that was distributed to 367 school districts that have 614 buildings 50 years and older. Responses were received from 398 buildings in 242 school districts. Findings…

The purpose of this guide is to facilitate the work of Georgia planners in systematically determining the size, nature, and functions of spaces needed for the construction or renovation of media center facilities after the minimum requirements for school media centers established by the Georgia Board of Education have been met. The first section…