The quality of doctoral students' academic and social experiences is a key element of their success in graduate school programs. These experiences support the completion of doctoral programs, especially for first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds. Framed by Weidman's (1989) undergraduate socialization model, the author…

Drawing from empirically based and theoretical literature in the field, this review examines Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and the accountability provisions found in Title One of the NCLB legislation. States have the ability to statistically manipulate their AYP implementation, which may give a false impression to the public that AYP is a…

Although the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act refers to "low performing" schools as "in need of improvement," no one outside of the U.S. Department of Education uses that phrase. The term most commonly used is "failing." NCLB offers a single, explicit definition of a failing school: one that fails to make adequate…

The Oregon Statewide Report Card is an annual publication required by law (ORS 329.115), which reports on the state of public schools and their progress towards the goals of the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century. The purpose of the Oregon Report Card is to monitor trends among school districts and Oregon's progress toward achieving the…

The authority, function, activities and major recommendations of the National Advisory Council on Equality of Educational Opportunity (NACEEO) are described in this report. Recommendations adopted by the Evaluation Task Force were: (1) that studies be undertaken to provide more information about the processes involved in increasing achievement…

Reviews early and recent policies and programs of the Mexican government to provide for the educational needs of the Indian minorities, with emphasis on bilingual education. Recommends further measures that will give Indians equal status in Mexican society. (MJL)

This report examines trends in student achievement for public school students using both state assessment data and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Recent trends on state assessments from 2004-05 through 2006-07 are examined in 30 states that had consistent assessments in place over this period and longer-term trends on the…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) focused national attention on improving schools so that all students reach academic proficiency by 2014. In the 2006-2007 school year, about 4,500 of the 54,000 Title I schools failed to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) for 4 or more years. Schools that miss AYP for 4 years are identified for…

The status of guidance and counseling in American education was investigated by a task force comprised of members of the American Personnel and Guidance Association and the United States Office of Education. Results of this inquiry indicated the following issues as major areas of concern: (1) comprehensiveness of guidance programs; (2) guidance…

Background on the creation, governance, program development, and planning of the new National Institute of Education (NIE) are provided in this speech. Summary descriptions of NIE's plans for basic research, research and development and utilization systems, and programmatic research and development. The latter category is NIE's major concentration…

In this paper, the author questions whether the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) achieves its stated purpose: to raise standards of academic achievement. Deeper understanding, subtlety of thought, creativity, critical thinking, perseverance, leadership and sensibility about self and the world cannot be measured by multiple-choice technology. The…

A record of Congressional hearings on the proposed Secondary Schools Basic Skills Act is contained in this document. Following the text of the bill, which is designed to provide junior high and high schools which have large numbers of economically disadvantaged students with funding for programs of quality basic skills instruction, testimony is…

Class size reduction has been shown to, among other things, improve academic achievement for all students and particularly for low-income and minority students. With the No Child Left Behind Act's heavy emphasis on scientifically based research, adequate yearly progress, and disaggregated results, one wonders why all children aren't enrolled in…

This document consists of two statements, one made by John Molina, Director of the Office of Bilingual Education, and the other by Elton W. Ridge, Project Manager of the Lau-Bilingual programs. The statement by Molina discusses the scope and the goals of ESEA Title VII programs and what has been accomplished. Statistics are presented on the number…

Federal laws related to elementary and secondary education, individuals with disabilities, and other programs are compiled in this report. Part I, Elementary and Secondary Programs, contains: (1) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (which concerns basic programs, critical skills improvement, magnet schools assistance, special…