Science teaching and teacher education in the U.S.A. have been of great national interest recently due to a severe shortage of science (and mathematics) teachers who do not hold strong qualifications in their fields of study. Unfortunately we lack a rigorous research base that helps inform solid practices about various models or elements of…

A recent literature review in support of the "State of the Nation" (SoN) investigation into CPD in England indicated a number of limitations both in how researchers see CPD and how schools themselves participate and register this participation in such activities. The SoN review was conducted in the period from late 2007 to early 2008,…

Many articles and reports have reviewed, researched, and commented on international assessments from the perspective of exploring what is relevant for the United States' education systems. Researchers make claims about whether the top-performing systems have transferable practices or policies that could be applied to the United States. However,…

Two leading science educators provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-field analysis of current trends in the research, policy, and practice of science education. This book offers valuable insights into why gaps in science achievement among racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic groups persist, and points toward practical means of…

This essay explores perspectives on teaching and learning by considering how a particular reform program (Individually Guided Education) is influenced by the social conditions in which it is realized. Individually Guided Education (IGE) is an approach to elementary school reform based on mastery-learning techniques. (DB)

Describes how North Island College, British Columbia, has developed an educational program which combines the North Americna community-college concept with the British open-learning system. (DB)

This report offers a brief synopsis of findings from a comprehensive, 4-year study of charter schools. The study was designed to find out what types of students attend charter schools, how charter laws and policies affect charter schools in each state, the conditions under which charter schools improve or do not improve student achievement and…

The central purpose of this paper is to describe the origins, assumptions, approaches, and problems of the major evaluation efforts relating to vocational education specified in the Educational Amendments of 1976. The first of five chapters provides background information on vocational education, evaluation, and the Education Amendments of 1976.…

Reports of declining test scores and high school graduates who can't read or compute have triggered a public demand for higher standards in education. In light of this demand, National Assessment re-examined its role with respect to raising educational quality in this country. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) asked seven…

The structure and foundations of educational evaluation activities are explained. Evaluation theories are divided into descriptive or empirical, and normative. Descriptive theory is defined as explaining phenomena, rather than being based on normative premises. It is referred to as educational evaluation analysis and is classified as a social…

This publication reports the findings of a 1997 survey of Catholic high schools. It is the first of several reports to be issued as part of a multiyear project. The findings are presented in five chapters: Institutional Characteristics, with emphasis on geography, governance, gender and grade levels, and selectivity; Staff and Student Profiles,…

The publication brings together the latest thinking in five areas important to bilingual education. Part one, legal aspects, deals with limitations and capabilities of the judicial process, interpretations of major court decisions, and implications of these decisions in terms of community members, educators, and school boards. Philosophies,…

The document presents a report on the role and status of arts education in a national sample of 13 elementary schools. It focuses on how conditions of elementary schooling affect arts programs, whether arts education is an important part of the total educational experience, and the degree to which arts education furthers creativity and…

This paper was prepared to provide background information for use by a committee on adult literacy, composed of superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, teachers, school board members, curriculum specialists, business leaders, individuals from higher education, legislators, and legislative staff. The purpose was to highlight…

This state of the art report examines the postsecondary educational opportunities of Canadian police officers, specifically within the context of Canadian community colleges. The purpose of the project was to provide police executives with adequate information about the advantages and outcomes of higher education in general and about law…