Adapted from the brief "Meet the Promise of Content Standards: Investing in Professional Learning," this article draws on the work of Learning Forward's initiative, Transforming Professional Learning to Prepare College- and Career-Ready Students: Implementing the Common Core. This multidimensional initiative is focused on developing…

This annual report provides a national perspective on Title II-D for federal fiscal year (FY) 2008 (2008-09 school year), as well as emergent trends based on data from the past seven years. Title II-D is the only federal education program with funds explicitly targeted to support state and local effective uses of educational technology in the …

The effectiveness of Tennessee EdTech Launch (TnETL), a statewide technology program designed to meet the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) mandate, was investigated in this matched treatment-control quasi-experimental study. The goal of the program was to provide full-time, on-site technology coaches to prepare teachers to create lessons that engage…

As the nation struggles to get back on its feet economically, the colleges and universities are working harder than ever to fulfill their mission: to educate the next generation of workers and citizens. In the West that task is arguably more challenging than elsewhere. The region is highly diverse in terms of both demographics and geography, with…

This study explored questions about whether there is a positive or negative relationship between student computer use and achievement, and whether the result vary by the amount of school or home computer use. Findings from the Idaho Statewide Testing Program for 31,000 students from more than 300 schools show that in general there is an inverse…

Adolescent literacy achievement across the United States is in crisis. More than eight million students in grades 4 to 12 are identified as struggling readers. These students, who perform below grade level in reading and writing, are at high risk for failure in all content subjects and ultimately for dropping out of school. Professionals in the…

This report begins with an overview of the Utah Educational Technology Initiative (ETI) that describes the state's financial commitment to educational improvement through educational technology, the ETI allocation process, the requirement that school districts and colleges of education match ETI funds with locally-generated funds or in-kind…

This publication defines academic standards and describes the development, adoption, and use of Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards, as well benefits of academic standards and application of the standards across the curriculum. The five categories that applications fall into include: (1) application of the basics; (2) ability to think; (3) skill…

This is the year-end evaluation for fiscal year 1998 of the Connecticut Statewide Systemic Initiative (SSI), known as Project CONNSTRUCT. The Connecticut Academy for Education in Mathematics, Science, and Technology is the fiscal agent for the SSI grant from the National Science Foundation. Data collection methods for this evaluation included…

Connecticut was in the first round of states to be awarded an $8.6 million grant by the National Science Foundation for 5 years to change its system of education for improved teaching and learning in mathematics, science, and technology, with emphasis on improving the achievement of poor and minority children. A private firm evaluated this…

With the Utah Educational Technology Initiative (ETI), the State has increased its commitment to educational technology. The evaluation of the Utah ETI is built around the concept of portfolio analysis, an evaluation method that incorporates the collection of diverse types of data and enables a number of types of evidence to be used to gauge…

High stakes testing has been in place in North Carolina since the late 1970s with highly visible, nationally norm-referenced tests administered to all students in several grades, as well as minimum competency testing as part of high school graduation requirements. A current back-to-basics movement has resulted in cuts to the testing program. A new…

This handbook provides guidelines for planning, implementing, and evaluating technology for the purpose of improving student achievement in school districts across Texas. These guidelines are not intended to replace currently successful district practices, but to provide one model of a step-by-step method for planning and implementation. The…

Asserts that new student assessment methods incorporate more direct assessment of student knowledge and performance. Describes changes in student assessment in California as a result of state and federal reform efforts. Discusses classroom implications and the role of teachers using the new assessment techniques. (CFR)

This report addresses the integration of technology into California's kindergarten through twelfth grade classrooms to prepare students for the job market and for college. The report sets goals for technology integration with a 4-year plan, assesses its cost, and proposes funding and implementation strategies for reaching those goals. The report…