In 2008, the Council for Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors Association started discussing the possibility of moving away from separate state standards. State education leaders were concerned that existing state standards weren't rigorous enough. So, in 2009, 48 states signed on to develop the Common Core State…

This article describes a 17-year-old program for at risk students which emphasizes 1-to-1 attention. Project STAY (School to Aid Youth) works with 40 first-grade students each year and has a high success rate. Other features of the program include heavy parent involvement, innovative teaching approaches, and lots of positive reinforcement. (IAH)

A recent cost-benefit analysis was made of reduced class size, increased instructional time, computer-assisted instruction, and peer or cross-age tutoring. Tutoring turned out to have the greatest effect on student learning and to be the most cost effective. Implementation of a successful tutoring program is described. (MT)

There are many myths about award-winning schools. Most attribute outstanding school success to money or luck--generous state dollars, corporate sponsorships, that one-in-a-million principal who could run a small country in his spare time. Sure, these things help, but the 20 schools that walked away with this year's Intel and Scholastic Schools of…