This appendix augments a report that updates 2013 guidance to school district leaders and their partners across the country who are interested in launching summer learning programs or improving established ones. In that report, the authors present recommendations based on evaluations, conducted between 2011 and 2016, of summer programs in five…

Over the course of six years, a diverse group of school districts and charter management organizations in California ran a substantial experiment in implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in elementary and middle grades. WestEd led an extensive evaluation of that effort, the California K-8 NGSS Early Implementers Initiative,…

States and districts can use this tool to create their own plans for continual improvement of an observation system, no matter where they are in their implementation. Included are action steps to improve observation rubrics, observer training, observer assessment, and monitoring. A planning process is described to assess current status, determine…

Effective teaching has long been an issue of national concern, but in recent years focus on the effectiveness of programs to produce high-quality teachers has sharpened. Long-standing achievement gaps persist despite large-scale legislative changes at the federal and state levels, and American students continue to show poorer performance on…

The purpose of this 4-year efficacy trial, funded by IES under the Mathematics and Science Education topic, is to study the efficacy of a (Tier 1) core kindergarten math curriculum, "Early Learning in Mathematics" (ELM), when implemented under rigorous experimental conditions. In the first year of this study (2008-09), kindergarten…

The report describes a model used to evaluate gifted programs. The model is said to rely on three sources of data: (1) structured narrative observation (the Gifted Class Activities Observation Scale); (2) teacher interviews; and (3) pupil interviews. (Sample forms appended.) The application of theory with this procedure resulted in an evaluation…

Describes and evaluates the approach to observation of young children used in the PROCESS project in London, England. PROCESS observation uses broad categories, emphasizes cognitive processes, covers a wide range of contexts, involves partnerships with parents, and is intended to inform planning. Discusses observation materials, factors affecting…

Examines the ANCHOR (Addressing the Needs of Children through Observation and Response) parent involvement project developed at the University of British Columbia. The project centers around parent and educator observation and discussion of videotaped sequences of preschool children's activities and interactions. Parents and teachers act as…

One approach to rebuilding public confidence in schools is to establish a visiting program for parents and patrons. This article describes a one-day "accreditation visit" program in Colorado that asks parents to observe classes, assess school climate, and make suggestions for school improvement. (MLH)

Explores a curriculum-review process for assessing how a specialized secondary school for the gifted might improve its programs and services. The review process used document review, interviews, focus groups, and classroom-observation techniques to arrive at recommendations and an action plan. (Author)

An eco-behavioral observation system was developed for use with students with behavior disorders or emotional disturbances. Discussed are the ecosystem definition, the student-instructional setting interface, and the assessment procedure, including evaluation of the quality of academic responding, program evaluation, staff development, and…

The purpose of this study was to gather descriptive data for a comparative analysis of classroom and physical education teaching. A description is provided of the instrument used in collecting a wide range of data appropriate to both the classroom and the gymnasium. Four behavioral categories were observed: substantive behavior, appraisal…

In preparation for the centennial of Montessori education, school leaders have a unique responsibility--not only to the communities, but also to Dr. Montessori's memory--to revise the educational practices in a manner that is both respectful of her theories and responsive to a changing educational landscape. This article outlines one example of…

This volume contains information on a pilot writing program, involving approximately 900 kindergarten through fifth grade students, designed to test the impact of emphasizing written composition during the language arts instructional period only, as compared to emphasizing composition skills during both language arts and social studies/science…

A new teacher certification law, enacted by the Maine Legislature in 1984, included a chapter which delineated standards and procedures for creating and operating support systems for candidates seeking a higher level certificate, a transitional endorsement, and/or renewal of the master's level certificate. This chapter requires that all teachers…