Issues related to educational equity and charter schools are discussed, and evidence is presented from a national study of equity in charter schools. Three standards of equity are discussed, and the equity provisions of state charter legislation are reviewed. To supplement existing studies of charter school demography, researchers at New York…

It is now seen as an economic and political necessity for countries to produce higher levels of performance across the spectrum of ability of all their students. This paper describes one example of the influence of political conditions on the process of developing assessment instruments and on measuring standards. In England, the trend is toward…

The Institute for Education and Social Policy assessed the relationship between standards-based reform and the charter school movement in four states: Texas, Massachusetts, California, and Louisiana. These states were selected because they are the focus of other projects sponsored by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and because, as a group,…

Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Social Studies provide direction for curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development. The standards identify eras and themes in Wisconsin history. Many of these standards can be taught using content related to the study of Wisconsin. The sample lessons included in this document identify…

This report presents recommendations of an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) task force which revised existing guidelines for nursing education. An introduction provides background information and notes major trends in health care and nursing. Also provided is a summary of the revision process which included two invitational…

This booklet defines law-related education as an educational program for teaching non-lawyers about law, the legal system, and the fundamental principles and values on which constitutional democracy is based. The program's approach is characterized by relevant curriculum materials, interactive teaching strategies, and extensive use of the…

This document is a product of the Promoting Instructional Coherence Project. The paper describes the progress of education in Louisiana and is designed to help educators as they construct a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning. Louisiana typically ranks near the bottom of the 50 states on educational quality and effectiveness, and its…

This publication is a tool to help educators weave academic content standards, assessments, and school-to-career methods into an integrated and comprehensive educational strategy that prepares all students to meet their future goals. Examples included in the publication were created by Colorado educators to provide a vision of how teachers can…

This extensive draft of a social studies curriculum framework for New Jersey elementary and secondary schools is divided into three broad sections: (1) "Introduction/Statement of Purpose"; (2) "Guiding Principles"; and (3) "Teaching to the Standards." The framework is based upon the nine approved social studies…

The instructional materials used in K-12 science classes provide the basis for what students can learn and what teachers should teach. The process used to select those materials is critical to providing students and teachers with a solid foundation for achievement and successful teaching. This report is addressed to school districts, school…

The professional development of teachers is a crucial element of the nation's efforts to improve education. In recent years, these efforts have sought to foster high standards for teaching and learning for all of the nation's children, and almost all states have met federal requirements for developing challenging statewide content standards.…

This paper presents different perspectives on homogeneous and heterogeneous ability grouping of students on an elementary school level. The teachers and administrators were surveyed to discover their preferences and attitudes toward homogeneous and heterogeneous class design and ability grouping within the classroom. Many journal articles…

This paper describes the feedback included in operational achievement level setting (ALS) procedures for the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). It does not describe the feedback form field trials, pilot studies, or other research studies related to the NAEP. The NAEP ALS process includes three rounds of item-by-item ratings, and…

This book is based on an integrated approach to science and technology and targets middle schools students. Each unit includes a teacher's guide and eight science activities. Units include: (1) "The Mousetrap Car"; (2) "The CO2 Car"; and (3) "The Space Frame Vehicle". Supplemental materials consist of seven readings including: (1) "Brainstorming";…

This document outlines the content standards for mathematics in the state of Colorado. The document is organized into six standards, each of which is subdivided into a series of lists defining what is expected of students at each grade level within the standard. The standards relate to number, algebra, data, geometry, measurement, and the linking…