TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) is a long-standing international assessment of mathematics and science at the fourth and eighth grades that has been collecting trend data every four years since 1995. About 70 countries use TIMSS trend data for monitoring the effectiveness of their education systems in a global…

At the heart of the effort to enact and scale up successful school reforms is the need for more robust links between research and practice. One promising approach is design development, a methodology widely used in other fields and only recently adapted to education, which offers a disciplined process for identifying practical problems, assessing…

This report commemorates the fifth anniversary of the Getting Down to Facts project, which sought to provide a thorough and reliable analysis of the critical challenges facing California's education system as the necessary basis for an informed discussion of policy changes aimed at improving the performance of California schools and students. The…

This book is a welcome guide for educators, civic leaders, and researchers looking for ways to leverage data to identify the most effective policies, interventions, and use of resources for their communities. In the current era of reform, much has been made of the fact that there are many influences that shape children beyond the walls of the…

E-books have been around for more than 10 years but are still a relatively new phenomenon to many librarians and publishers. With the introduction of e-book readers, the e-book has become mainstream, with recent triple-digit annual increases in sales. But what place do they have in the library? In this volume, Sue Polanka brings together a variety…

In the last decade, the Boston Public Schools has undergone critical reforms that have been of intense interest to school leaders and policymakers throughout the country. Under the leadership of superintendent Thomas Payzant, the Boston schools implemented extensive reform strategies that yielded notable results. Fittingly, at the end of Payzant's…

These papers produced for a research project and seminar discuss from different conceptual, methodological, and practical perspectives the use of information systems to help improve the urban and regional planning process in developing countries, particularly in Asia and the Pacific. The 15 papers are: (1) "Assessing the Context for…

A panel discussion was held on the Student Information System (SIS) established at Ohio State University. The SIS was designed to: (1) document student experiences; (2) diagnose student progress in programs in order to fulfill general student advising and counseling functions; (3) collect data on students and programs for evaluation purposes; and…

This document is a compendium of descriptions of 163 innovative programs and services for commuter college and university students from campuses across the nation. Entries include a brief description of the program, statement of goals, rationale, and pertinent background information; resources including staff, volunteer, and funding; evaluation…