A secondary school French immersion program in Montreal is discussed. A research and testing program to evaluate student performance is described. Results show a significant increase in French skills over regular language programs, no decrease in English skills, and no decrease in general academic achievement. (CHK)

In September 2001, New York University's Institute for Education and Social Policy (IESP) was awarded a grant by the New York Institute for Special Education to evaluate the Cornerstone K-3 national literacy initiative. This report examines the implementation of The Cornerstone Initiative in 18 schools from nine school districts, representing the…

For schools to spend Title I funds on comprehensive school reform (CSR) programs under the No Child Left Behind Act, there must be empirical evidence of significant improvement in the academic achievement of CSR students. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of convincing evidence that CSR programs have a positive impact on student achievement. Over a…

The Pacific Communities with High-performance in Literacy Development (Pacific CHILD) Professional Development Model research project was initiated in response to an overwhelming need in PREL's Pacific service region for improvement of teachers' knowledge and instructional practices in early reading. This report examines the question of the…

The main goal of the study was to document and describe the beginnings of the implementation of the Strategic Instructional Model at five (5) middle schools in the EPISD. The study also examined Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) data from those students that participated in the program. Methodology: Implementation information was…

This paper describes a 1996-97 faculty development program conducted for the social work department at Andrews University (Michigan). The training included the presentation of instructional theory, demonstration of instructional techniques, practice of the techniques by the participants, feedback on these practice sessions, and on-going support…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a 3-year project of faculty and curricular development using a variety of classic texts and involving 10 liberal arts colleges and one state university. Three-week summer seminars were held for faculty who studied self-selected classics introduced by master teachers, and discussed…

The Montana Systemic Teacher Excellence Preparation (STEP) Project is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Collaborative for Teacher Preparation (CETP), funded in 1993, as an initiative to accomplish systemic change in mathematics and science teacher preparation in Montana. The STEP collaborative uses a team approach to redesign content and methods…

This fastback shows teachers and teacher educators how contextual teaching and learning (CTL) can change classrooms and teacher education programs. It introduces CTL in the classroom through the fictional Ms. Walters, a veteran classroom teacher who implements CTL strategies. The fastback examines the theories that support her instructional…

The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies (NLS and NNS) represent a major government initiative to improve classroom practice and pupil learning in literacy and mathematics in primary schools across England. National targets were intended to increase the percentage of 11-year-olds reaching Level 4 in annual assessments for English and…

This evaluative study looks at the Kampala (Uganda) Schools' Improvement Project (SIP). The purpose of the project, which lasted from 1994 to 1997, was to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Kampala primary schools by promoting and then institutionalizing the adoption of child-centered teaching methods and resources in project schools.…

Substantially self-paced programed learning at Sheffield City Polytechnic Metallurgy Department was found to be better than conventional lectures, provided that new topic areas covered were relatively small, as demonstrated by using inexpensive, simple instructional materials. (Author/JN)

Although there appears to be considerable agreement concerning the criteria to be evaluated in field experience programs for preservice teachers, the relative importance attached to each item varies markedly from one program to another. (JD)

The design and testing of a simulation of the planning evaluation process for use in training is presented and its use in a five-day professional workshop is described. Comments are made on this trial run and on the task of evaluation training in general. (MH)