Our society's preoccupation with making educational policy and practice "scientific" is attested to by the stated mission of the Institute of Education Sciences: "to provide rigorous evidence on which to ground education practice and policy." Early in the twentieth century, John Dewey also advocated for a vision of education guided by science, and…

This paper examines the current academic and policy literatures surrounding teacher education. It provides a typology of existing national system of initial education and in-service education, in addition to presenting some of the advantages and disadvantages of these different systems. This report will provide an account of the current empirical…

Based on the bestselling book "Data Wise: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Assessment Results to Improve Teaching and Learning", and its companion volume, "Data Wise in Action", this DVD and Facilitator's Guide offer insight into one of the most challenging steps in capturing data about school performance: observing and analyzing instructional…

Educating for global citizenship is increasingly named as a goal of education. This study examines the variations in intent and approach to global education and educating for global citizenship. A review of the literature identifies the links between citizenship and globalization as well as the conflicting discourses and agendas surrounding…

For more than 50 years, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) has been instrumental in developing an analytical model for understanding the relationships between educational policy (the intended curriculum), classroom and instructional practices (the implemented curriculum), and educational learning…

This article explores the theme of the "two faces of education" by reviewing new policy directives in the United Kingdom to strengthen community cohesion in schools and their communities. These directives have resulted from growing disaffection with the aims and outcomes of multiculturalism. This article will investigate the ways in…

Educators in China are facing challenges as a tug-of-war between local culture and global influences in Chinese early childhood music educations plays out. By exploring the situations of Hong Kong and Nanjing, the authors demonstrate a wide gap between policy and practice. The top-down policy from government officials is based on global views of…

The paper reviews the history and considers future aspects of providing education to intellectually gifted children in Australia. The period of 1960-1975 is seen as one of limited interest in gifted education, while the years 1976-80 are classified as times of greater experimentation on a state by state basis. The third and current phase is…

The issue of adopting information technology (IT) based education and performance-based education in schools is debated. The arguments supporting each of the education policy are presented.

Reports on changes taking place in British primary school curriculum component called variously: "craft design and technology (CDT)," or "design-related activities." Explains the philosophy behind the reform and relates various classroom experiences which typify current practice. (JDH)

Discusses how and at what level teachers of young children should be trained by comparing the present training schemes in England, Sweden, and Spain. Suggests the need for (1) rapid expansion of educational provision for children from birth; (2) reconsideration of current curriculum and teaching methodology; and (3) expansion of opportunities for…

The document reports several policy options that address the issue of educating autistic children in rural and sparsely populated areas. A description of autistic children relates numerous problems, confusions, and disagreements about the nature and course of the handicap including lack of agreement about definition and treatment. The most…

Begins by reviewing widely-perceived ills of France's lower secondary schools and noting the political nature of any decision to change. Outlines the official 1982 four-point program of reform designed to move toward genuine democratization of the schools. Notes obstacles to change, but provides guidelines for a number of practices deemed helpful…

Over the past several decades, researchers, politicians, and corporate leaders have focused reform efforts on the size of educational contexts. Hundreds of billions of public and private dollars have been invested to reduce the size and scope of both classrooms and schools (Lee & Ready, 2007). Unlike many education reforms, these downsizing…