The creation of the Nevada Education Reform Act of 1997 (NERA) by the state legislature placed an emphasis on education, including technology. NERA supports a standards-based curriculum that focuses on improving student achievement and the integration of technology into the classroom. The intent of the legislation was to make technology a part…

This article relates the experiences of teachers from the Towson University/Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland, Professional Development School (PDS) site. A Collaborative Action Research Study Group (ARSG) was formed to facilitate the professional development of inservice teachers involved in PDS partnerships. Setup of the ARSG was…

The mission of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is to advance the quality of teaching and learning by: maintaining high, rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do; providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who meet these standards; and advocating related education…

Learning and Integrating New Knowledge and Skills (LINKS) was a technology project designed to integrate established and emerging technologies into the teacher preparation program at Texas Woman's University (TWU). The project was supported by a U.S. Department of Education, Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) grant. The LINKS…

This study investigated how seven high-poverty middle schools demonstrated strong academic improvement so they were performing at levels consistent with, and often better than, higher-income schools in their states. Schools ranged in enrollment from 291-1,010 and represented several community types and ethnic groups. Among the characterisitics…

These case studies described how seven high-poverty middle schools were able to demonstrate strong academic improvement in a short amount of time so they were performing at levels consistent with, and often better than, higher-income schools in their states. These case studies focus on procedural knowledge that may prove useful to other schools…

This report describes the work of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), presenting profiles that describe major professional development opportunities to enhance teacher quality created by the AFT and its affiliates: the Educational Research and Dissemination Program (which links teachers to the research they need); the Beginning Teacher…

The Portland Public Schools, Maine, a small, diverse urban district, partnered with the Portland Education Association and the University of Southern Maine's College of Education and Human Development to pilot Strengthening and Sustaining Teachers (SST), part of a national effort to link preservice teacher education in a continuum with veteran…

Standards-based professional development can have a positive effect on classroom practice, particularly in terms of reform-oriented practices. It can also have a positive effect on student achievement. But the research is very mixed. Research/evaluation designs cannot always attribute effects to a specific professional development opportunity,…

This guide contains material that has been piloted in Tennessee ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Regional Training Sessions over 2 years. It contains resources for teachers, student learning plans, student portfolio check sheets, information to help new teachers, and Internet sites where training videos and curriculum resources can…

At least 36 states have made some changes to their teacher policies by passing more than 100 bills to strengthen preparation and licensure standards and provide additional funding for teacher mentoring and professional development. The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF) has been a catalyst in bringing teacher policy…

This study evaluated the science, mathematics, and technological needs of teachers in eastern North Carolina, establishing how to best serve their professional development needs. A survey instrument was constructed to collect information from North Carolina teachers who served as Professional Development Liaisons (PDLs). The survey consisted of 11…

This book describes the concept of mastery learning in the classroom and the various foundations upon which it is built. Five chapters discuss: (1) "Understanding Mastery Learning" (e.g., the learning/memory base, the measurement base, theoretical bases, and the brain base); (2) "Examining the Standards: Math, Science, Social Studies, and English…

The need is clear for colleges of education to prepare student and teachers for a technological world. Most Texas institutions of higher education are struggling with integrating technology into courses and content areas an in offering online courses. This project was undertaken to address the need for increased faculty proficiency in technology…

This study evaluated the Michigan Department of Education Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) Grant Funded Reform Demonstration Program, which helps raise student achievement in the Detroit Public Schools. The four objectives evaluated were: CSRD schools will demonstrate differences in the classroom learning environment compared to…