Utah's K-3 Reading Improvement Program provides state matching funds to help districts and charter schools achieve the state's goal of having third graders read at or above grade level. All 40 Utah school districts took part in both Year 1 (2004/05) and Year 2 (2005/06) of the program, and the number of participating charter schools increased in…

Unique in its coverage of both prevention and intervention, this book provides evidence-based strategies and ready-to-use tools for addressing substance abuse in middle and high school settings. Readers learn ways to identify students at risk and implement programs that meet a broad continuum of needs--from psychoeducational and support groups to…

This article outlines two compatible models of planning and implementing programs for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The Ziggurat Model begins the process with an assessment of student strengths and concerns related specifically to ASD and identifies interventions across five tiers that match these strengths and concerns: (a)…

We examined the extent to which use of a technology-enhanced continuous progress monitoring system would enhance the results of math instruction, examined variability in teacher implementation of the program, and compared math results in classrooms in which teachers did and did not use the system. Classrooms were randomly assigned to within-school…

This paper presents and illustrates some principles for organizational development approaches to improving school climate. It discusses a specific structure for facilitating school improvement entitled Program Development Evaluation, and it illustrates the use of school climate assessments for school diagnosis and the evaluation of improvement…

The Innovative Instructional Incentive Plan represents a set of goals and action strategies for implementing the school improvement plan of the Fairway Elementary School in Miramar, Florida, where instructional time was being lost due to disruptive student behavior, and where behavioral infractions were not always dealt with quickly or…

This paper considers what happens when research-based strategies are attempted outside the context of the original research and questions whether positive findings from research studies can be generalized to real-world settings. Prevention programs within a school system were identified and an activities questionnaire was developed to measure each…

This report presents findings on the implementation and impacts of Project Transition, a research and demonstration program implemented at Pulaski High School in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 school years, and in Schlagle High School in Kansas City (Kansas) during the 1996-97 school year. The program was deigned to test the…

An overview of research and programs aimed at primary prevention of adolescent suicide is presented. In addition to person-centered programs, institutionally oriented prevention efforts involving policy formation at the district, community, and state levels are outlined. Model programs and resources are cited. (SLD)

This article highlights how instructional management differs from behavior management in terms of common practice, and demonstrates how an instructional strategy used to address persistent academic errors, called "precorrection," can be applied to change chronic problem behaviors. Seven basic correction and precorrection steps are…

The TRIFOCAL Model for curing underachievement syndrome is presented and is related to the Future Problem Solving (FPS) program, specifically the steps that involve changing expectations, role model identification, and changing reinforcements at school. A case study is presented of an underachieving sixth grade student who became actively engaged…

A three-year project that examined the impact of an inservice program and consultation processes in facilitating the inclusion of students with emotional or behavioral disorders into general education settings in 25 school districts found that immediate implementation of the consultation process was needed for districts to implement learned…

This article describes a school where problems of defiance and aggression were met with high levels of seclusion and physical restraints. Centennial School had a comprehensive program of interventions designed to reduce and eventually eliminate aversive management strategies. Data on the effectiveness of these interventions is shared and…

As prevention programs become disseminated, the most serious threat to effectiveness is maintaining the quality of implementation intended by the developers. This paper proposes a methodology for measuring quality of implementation in school settings and presents data from a pilot study designed to test several of the proposed components. These…

This paper examines several conceptual frameworks that can inform elementary career intervention programming. Equity, social justice, and the development of intrinsic motivation are key concepts in the promotion of social action initiatives aimed at improving academic achievement and expanding future career options for all students. Early career…