This article presents findings from an investigation of the overall effectiveness of Michigan's Freedom to Learn (FTL) One-to-One initiative. The major goal of the FTL initiative was to help students to gain 21st century knowledge and skills while increasing their learning and achievement through the integration of over 20,000 laptop computers…

Designed to improve PK-12 professional learning and increase student achievement, Wisconsin's policymakers developed and implemented new educator licensing guidelines (PI 34) and a Professional Development Plan (PDP) system based on empirical research and national policy trends in 2004. As PI 34 and the PDP system are relatively new, the…

The objectives of this study were to: (1) describe existing programs for special needs students, (2) provide information on students and teachers in these programs, (3) compare teacher and administrator appraisal of the programs, and (4) determine the degree of program acceptance by students, parents, and the public. Questionnaires and interviews…

This report summarizes the activities and findings of the external evaluation of the "Science: It's Elementary" (SIE) program during the period from July 2008 through June 2009. The SIE program is managed by ASSET Inc. and overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. SIE is an initiative aimed at improving elementary science…

Described is a project in which 60 educable mentally handicapped (EMH) and 30 educationally Handicapped (EH) students were placed in regular classes and provided with individually prescribed programs based on daily assessment and prescription by a resource teacher. Information is provided on the California school district implementing the project…

Following a historical introduction to the Kentucky Educational Television (KET) project, this final report concentrates on five major issues: (1) KET's relationship with other educational and governmental agencies, (2) utilization and maintenance of equipment for school and evening programing, (3) programing, (4) technological considerations, and…

This paper describes a three-year project funded by Title IV/C of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and initiated by the Minnesota state board of education to reduce sex bias among students and teachers in Minneapolis. Emphasis during the first year of the project was on the development of nonsexist curriculum materials to be used…

The purpose of this paper is to provide information about the current status of available programs, research findings related to quality programs, and issues surrounding programs for 4-year-old children. The paper is intended as a resource for multiple audiences, including decision makers, legislators, regulatory administrators, advocates,…

This report summarizes the activities and findings of the external evaluation of the "Science: It's Elementary" (SIE) program in the period June 2007 through May 2008. The SIE program is managed by ASSET Inc. and overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. SIE is an initiative aimed at improving elementary science instruction…

The Adult Basic Education (ABE) program conducted by the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was evaluated. Data were collected via staff interviews and record reviews during site visits at ABE facilities located in five of six district comprising the Trust Territory. Focus of the evaluation activities was on program administration,…

These three reports by national consultants assess first year progress in implementing state mandated educational reforms in Kentucky. First, "The Status of Primary School Reform in Kentucky and Its Implications," by James Rath, Lilian Katz, and John Fanning, reports on site visits to 14 public schools to assess progress in implementing…

A special 6-week program, designed to increase the scores of low achieving minority eighth-grade students on the ninth grade Texas Education Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS) Test, was implemented in 1986 in the Houston Independent School District as "Summer Academies." The students, who voluntarily enrolled in the program, were…

Noting that the growing popularity of year-round schools (extended calendar without increasing the number of school days) has coincided with an increase in school accountability, this report provides a descriptive case study on one year-round school located within a large elementary school district in central Virginia. An optional year-round…

Activities of and outcomes resulting from the State Project to Implement Career Education (SPICE) in New York City schools for the first year and a half are reported in this summative evaluation. Findings (much of which are statistical data) discussed deal almost exclusively with the elementary-junior high program, one of two autonomous programs…

The conference's keynote address is presented by Bernard C. Watson. Papers include: Vantage from the State Department of Education, by Robert G. Scanlon (Pennsylvania); Minimum Competency: As the Public Sees the Question, by Jacqueline Grennan Wexler; Minimum Competency Testing (MCT): A Tripartite Response from the Profession, by W. James Popham;…