Based on literature and research on discussion and on educational techniques to improve discussion moderators behaviors, a training program was developed for pre- and in-service teacher educators, business and industry executives and university professors (23 to 28 hours, three and a half days). This program was tested for its effectiveness with…

Since the 1996/97 school year, the state of North Carolina has awarded bonuses of up to $1,500 to teachers in schools that exhibit test score gains above certain thresholds. This article reviews the details of the bonus program, describes patterns of differences between schools that qualify for bonuses of differing amounts, and presents basic data…

Graduation 2010 is a public school curriculum project based on recent neurological research, the goal of which is to increase children's capacity to learn. The program consists of eight action plans, or strands: Arts, Music, Foreign Language, Reading/Language Development, Thinking Skills, Health/Emotional Health, Family Involvement, and Community…

The report highlights evaluations from the 1979-80 school year of 18 deaf/blind programs in Texas. Two previous years' findings are noted. Analysis of teacher and administrator questionnaires indicated an increase in the trend toward more uniform structuring of individualized education programs (IEPs). Programs were not as successful as the…

The Head Start Teaching Center is a federally funded national demonstration project designed to test the efficacy of participatory training for staff in all components of Head Start services. The New England Teaching Center is designed to provide intensive training during a 3- to 5-day period of residence. Each Teaching Center conducts a regular…

This study explored the potential of meta-analysis for assessing the efficacy of interventions designed for parents of young, environmentally at-risk children. Included in the sample were 232 evaluations of 282 parent-focused interventions implemented between 1965 and 1999; evaluations met 10 criteria, including the inclusion of a treatment and…

This paper measures effective leadership preparation and assesses its relationship to what principals learn about leadership, their leadership practices, and school improvement progress and improved school climate (particularly for academic press and continuous improvement). This paper draws on survey research conducted in 2005 with 125 principals…

The effect of reading remediation that emphasized phonetic decoding was investigated in 61 children with pure reading disorders, controlling for the influence of nonspecific treatment effects. The children were randomly assigned to receive instruction in reading or in other subjects for four months; and they were reevaluated immediately after, two…

Recent advances in the study of life stress and social support suggest a new approach to the drug abuse client recidivism problem which encompasses the need for naturalistic, interactional studies. A longitudinal study was conducted with 49 ex-clients of a heroin detoxification program to test the hypothesis that experiencing life stress in the…

Two types of research--informal interviews and a questionnaire survey--were conducted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to assess teacher perceptions of regional school accreditation by SACS and to aid in SACS consultations and schools' staff development programs. The questionnaire survey compared teacher expectations of…

Many of the 56 school districts of Nassau County in New York State offer programs to support youth-at-risk. The programs are diverse, and they vary across districts in availability, effectiveness, and perceived need. This study sought to determine availability, effectiveness, and perceived need of programs which provide at-risk youth with academic…

Group assertion training has employed a variety of techniques including bibliotherapy, behavioral rehearsal, and didactic lecture presentations. Whether didactic information affects behavior, structure, and/or self-evaluation is unknown, and it is not clear whether behavioral practice enhances the effects of didactic training upon behavior,…

This exploratory study provides some baseline information on the effectiveness of the University of New Hampshire's extended teacher education program which, in the fifth year, culminates in a year-long internship. Currently, more than half of the intern placements are in cluser sites, which provide an opportunity for developing school-based…

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to explore the impact of a direct reading instruction program, "Reading Mastery (RM)," on literacy performance of students over a five-year period. Initially, 700 students in grades K-3 were randomly selected from six elementary schools to participate in the study; an additional 100…

The effects of participation in the Chicago (Illinois) Child-Parent Center and Expansion Program from ages 3 to 9 on early school dropout at age 17 were studied. The Child-Parent Centers offer a government-funded educational intervention program in preschool through second or third grade in 20 locations in Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. Using…