English learners (ELs) constitute one of the largest subgroups enrolled in the US public education system. The state of California has an estimated 1.5 million ELs in kindergarten through Grade 12. This mixed methods study employed improvement science principles to understand how three high school physics teachers implemented project-based…

Specialized secondary schools in the United States focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are becoming commonplace in the United States. Such schools are generally referred to by U.S. teachers as Academies. In a purposeful effort to provide a resource to educators building new STEM Academies, this study provides both a…

The purpose of this study was to identify the strategies, practices, and leadership skills utilized by California superintendents in implementing 21st-century skills in their respective districts. A mixed-methods design was used, combining qualitative and quantitative analysis. Quantitative data from 37 California superintendents were collected…

According to self-determination theory, social contexts that support students' basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness foster motivation toward behaviors that are valued in that social context. This study investigated the socio-contextual elements of a learning environment that support or undermine students' basic…

The Gilroy, California, Unified School District contracted with Westinghouse Learning Corporation for the 1970-71 school year for the purpose of improving reading and mathematics achievement of approximately 100 Spanish-surnamed boys and girls from grades 2-4. The average gain at the end of the program was 0.6 achievement years in reading and 0.8…

This document builds on the foundation laid by the 1985 edition of the "Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools" to describe the structure and organization of instructional programs that address the goal of developing mathematical power for all students. An introduction discusses the nature of the proposed reform and the…