This paper summarizes the literature and research on the relationships between culture and mathematics. Ethnomathematics examines the ways that different cultural groups use mathematics. Various definitions of ethnomathematics are presented, along with a framework covering areas of mathematics and mathematics education included in the term.…

Achievement in literacy and numeracy by Australian 14-year-olds was examined by analyzing data from the following studies conducted between 1975 and 1998: the Australian Studies in School Performance; the Australian Studies of Student Performance; the Youth in Transition Survey; and the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth. During the study…

This study examined emerging educational trends in Minnesota following the implementation of the Minnesota Basic Skills Tests. Data consisted of demographic and test score information for all 8th grade students taking the regular administration of the mathematics and reading Basic Skills Tests from 1996-01. Students' performance in reading appears…

The present research is a third-party study of the effects of the School Renaissance (SR) comprehensive school reform (CSR) model on student achievement in 11 elementary and middle schools in Texas. The primary measures used in the study were the Texas Learning Index (TLI) reading and mathematics scores obtained through administration of the Texas…

The ACT Assessment is a measure of skills in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning necessary for college coursework. This booklet includes four sections designed to help the assessment user. Section 1, "Components of the ACT Assessment," contains general information about the assessment for counselors and college advisors…

EXPLORE is an every-student program that assesses the academic progress of eighth graders, helps them explore the wide range of career options, and assists them in developing a high school coursework plan. EXPLORE can function as a stand-alone program or as a point of entry into the American College Testing (ACT) Program's Educational Planning and…

The U.S. General Accounting Office surveyed 758 higher education institutions (of which 430 responded) to determine how much federal student financial aid is going towards payment for remedial courses courses needed by new college students to attain adequate proficiency in basic skills prior to taking college level courses. In addition, nine…

This report presents data on high school performance indicators for the 1999-00 school year in Chancellor's District high schools. Data are provided on: background; students (numbers and ethnicity); state accountability indicators in English and language arts (full cohort and seniors in the cohort); state accountability indicators in mathematics…

This collection of papers examines key failures in modern U.S. education and shows how parents, policymakers, and teachers can make changes that will raise the level of student performance. The papers were presented at a 1997 conference designed to examine how elementary and secondary school students learn and are taught in the classroom. The…

Presents fundamentals of the author's approach to teaching, drawn from her experiences in New York City concerning (1) caring; (2) high expectations; (3) creating interest; (4) keeping students busy to avoid discipline problems; (5) performance-based assessment; and (6) parent involvement. Techniques and tactics for teaching mathematics are also…

Spurred by federal and state mandates for improved performance, school districts across the country have become adept at establishing districtwide goals to raise student achievement. They have identified learning gaps among various student populations and now seek to close them. They have targeted improved performance in reading or math by grade…

This chapter provides an overview of statistical issues arising in work on educational assessment and school accountability, organized around some of the most consequential misunderstandings. The article proceeds via a series of nine vignettes describing misunderstandings of statistical uncertainty in educational assessment and school…

A problem with interpretations of differences in mathematic achievement between students from Asian countries and those from the United States is the seemingly implicit assumption of the cultural homogeneity of Asian societies. Researchers rarely measure the effects of variables within cultures that are hypothesized to be related to differences…

This report describes how the education system in the United States compares with education systems in the other Group of Eight (G-8) countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom. The report draws on the most current information about education from three primary sources: the Indicators of…

This report describes how the education system in the United States compares with education systems in the other Group of Eight (G-8) countries. The G-8 countries--Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States--are among the world's most economically developed countries. Comparative…