California has a notable history of investing in educational leaders' professional learning. In 1983, the state launched the California School Leadership Academy (CSLA), which it funded until the academy was discontinued due to statewide budget cuts in 2003. Research showed that CSLA was a source of high-quality professional development. In 2019,…

Over the last decade, teaching assistants (TAs) have become an established part of everyday classroom life. TAs are often used by schools to help low-attaining pupils and those with special educational needs. Yet despite the huge rise in the number of TAs working in UK classrooms, very little is known about their impact on pupils. This key and…

"Why Rural Matters 2011-12" is the sixth in a series of biennial reports analyzing the contexts and conditions of rural education in each of the 50 states and calling attention to the need for policymakers to address rural education issues in their respective states. While it is the sixth in a series, this report is not simply an…

Research studies in the past decade have shown that computer technology is an effective means for widening educational opportunities, but most teachers neither use technology as an instructional delivery system nor integrate technology into their curriculum. Studies reveal a number of factors influencing teachers' decisions to use ICT in the…

In their efforts to help children overcome the deleterious influences of such social problems as illiteracy, dropping out, school failure, and poverty, policymakers are turning to early childhood educators. Studies have shown that children in high quality preschool programs exceed expectations in school and society. States and the private sector…

The Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA) established a new organization within the U.S. Department of Education, the Institute of Education Sciences (the Institute). The mission of the Institute is to expand knowledge and provide information on: the condition of education (through the National Center for Education Statistics); practices…

This document reports on the second in a series of hearings on the reauthorization of expiring federal elementary and secondary education programs. Corporate business leaders presented their views on the reauthorization of Chapter 1. Five witnesses, representing manufacturing, education programs funded under the Education Improvement and…

This handbook presents annotated "snapshots" of 10 innovative family literacy programs, almost all of which were begun by an individual with a vision of a new way to solve a demanding educational problem. Profiles depict, in terms of background, characteristics, evidence of success, and advice to policymakers and practitioners, the: (1)…

This report describes the District of Columbia Public Schools education plan for the school years 1988-92. It includes information on the planning process and the goals and constraints which determined the final shape of the plan. The report also contains the following: (1) a description of employment trends which will influence the skills…

This study evaluated the national network of Technical Assistance Centers (TACs), which provides technical assistance in evaluation and program improvement to state and local educational agencies responsible for implementing programs under Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act (ECIA). The U.S. Department of Education…

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of recent educational reform efforts in Washington State and to determine what educators believe to be the most important future areas of focus. In particular, the researchers wanted to determine whether school-wide improvement efforts (i.e. School Improvement Plans (SIPs), School Improvement…

Comprehensive Arts Planning Program (CAPP) grants were awarded to 30 school districts in Minnesota to improve their arts education programs. Each district formed a community-based team of eight persons. Each team was then responsible for planning developing, and promoting comprehensive arts education within the district. Following a brief…

Five individual-level independent variables--life stage (age), social status, health, informal social support, and stress--were measured to assess the dependent variable, use of social services. Only the existence of informal social support proved significant, indicating a need for informal networks and educational programs, as well as for…

This report presents findings of an inquiry into the educational needs of children prenatally exposed to drugs and covers: (1) the extent of the problem, (2) negative effects of prenatal drug exposure on a child's educational potential, (3) typical behaviors and learning deficits of such children, and (4) characteristics of successful early…

A study examined the experiences of local governments throughout the United States in implementing the public service employment (PSE) component of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA). The study involved four rounds of observations (in July and December 1977, December 1979, and December 1980) of programs in 40 State and local…