Discusses the findings and implications of effective schools research for teacher training programs, emphasizing the argument that depressed achievement derives from school disability rather than familial disadvantage. Also examines the effective teacher's need for knowledge of psychometrics and an understanding of how dependent effective teaching…

Given are guidelines, supported by both research and practice, that may aid in providing remediation for low-achieving students. (MNS)

California created the Teaching as a Priority (TAP) Program to increase the proportion of fully certified teachers in low performing schools. TAP funding to attract and retain fully certified teachers in these schools was to be disbursed through the schools at the individual level (e.g., signing bonuses) and school level (e.g., funds for…

The Field Guide for Change Facilitators Working With Low-Performing Schools was written to assist those working with schools in the improvement process, especially low-performing ones. As a primer for change facilitators, this research-based guide is arranged in sections so that the user can easily find needed information on specific topics.…

The study examines the relationship between principal leadership and teacher expectancy within Chicago's accountability context. Current school accountability policies assume that the threat of sanctions will motivate teachers to improve. The study uses expectancy theory, which suggests that any impact on motivation will be constrained by…

A pilot version of a School Capacity Assessment (SCA) was developed in 2002 to assess the degree to which schools possess the potential to become high performing learning communities. The SCA was part of AELs School Capacity Development project. The pilot version of the SCA was intended to be administered to K-12 professional staff to assist them…

This letter reviews actions by the New York State Education Department and New York City Board of Education as of January 2002 to implement recommendations contained in a prior audit report. The audit found that the Department and the Board did not always perform adequate analysis to determine the effectiveness of various consultant programs being…

Students who expect success but are unwilling to work for it are a source of frustration for teachers. This book offers a set of beliefs and five processes that form the framework for classroom-friendly strategies designed to inspire motivation in students who are giving up. These beliefs are that: (1) all student are capable of learning when they…

Focus Alternative High School (FAHS), Oak Park, Michigan, is a Detroit suburban school designed to meet the needs of approximately 50 students who have not demonstrated success in the traditional high school setting. At FAHS and in its afterschool Project Graduation program, PLATO (registered) Pathways has been implemented to address the…

Central Cabarrus High School (CCHS), near Charlotte, North Carolina, uses the PLATO computer assisted instruction system primarily to support remediation programs that are intended to help low performing students meet graduation requirements. CCHS used PLATO to: (1) provide an option for students to earn credit for failed courses or their…

This paper explores the issue of why some students in the Caribbean do not do as well as expected in assessed groupwork. The study was based on peer assessment in 2 university courses taken by 57 students who worked in 8 groups (group sizes 4 to 10). Both males and females participated, their ages ranging from 20 to 46 years. The study was…

An action research study was undertaken to examine the effects of educational technology resources on critical thinking and analytical skills. The researcher observed 3 different 11th grade classes, a total of 75 students, over a week as they worked in the school's computer lab. Each class was composed of 25 to 30 students, all of whom were…

This research focuses on a program for improving spelling achievement through an integrated approach using high-frequency words. The targeted population consisted of a third grade class, a fourth grade special education resource class, a sixth grade language arts class, and an eighth grade language arts class. All classrooms were located in rural…

The present study was the first in a series designed to investigate the functional relationship between levels of academic survival skills and academic reading achievement of low-functioning children in regular classrooms. (Author)