This guidebook reports the results of a three-year study involving the use of paraprofessionals with mathematics students in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District (California), and outlines a program for initiating a mathematics paraprofessional program. Over 1200 students in grades 4-7 participated in this project to determine the effects of…

As part of an educational reform in the Netherlands, teachers were required to implement models of adaptive instruction, including group-based mastery learning. It was expected that mastery learning would raise achievement and reduce differences in achievement among children of different social classes and between girls and boys. In 1987, students…

A discussion of mathematics curriculum and teaching methods based on the standards issued by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) is presented. The standards emphasize the connectedness of each of the branches of mathematics and underline the relationship of each branch to…

This curriculum guide prescribes the minimum course content for all mathematics programs in the public schools of the State of Alabama. It forms the basis for the development, by local education agencies, of all state mathematics programs. Minimum course content for each grade has been organized into seven content areas: number, measurement,…

South Carolina's School Incentive Reward Program Program (SIRP) based on year-to-year gains in reading and mathematics achievement, which seemed to have face validity, was evaluated, particularly its use of the relative gains of students in only the highest grade in the school as the basis for the awards. When this requirement was relaxed so that…

On April 7, 1982, the Connecticut State Board of Education passed a resolution commending the work of the Professional Development Council and approving the recommendations contained in the report, "Recommendations for Ensuring Professional Competence." Pursuant to three recommendations from this report, an advisory committee was…

This study, focusing on 165 public elementary schools in Hawaii, examined the use of test scores as measures of curriculum effectiveness and identified context and input variables that may impact on these measures of effectiveness. Demographic characteristics and test data on approximately 12,000 third graders were used to obtain 165 school…

This summary report from The Nation's Report Card offers a synthesis of findings from recent national assessments of American education for 9-, 13-, and 17-year-old students in a variety of subject areas. Areas covered include reading, writing, mathematics, science, American history, literature, and computer competence. Trends in academic…

Efforts have been underway since 1973 to determine if there are elements of Navajo culture that potentially impact upon a Navajo student's attainment of mathematics concepts. Extensive reading and discussion with Navajo students and educational leaders on the Navajo reservation show that basic concepts and objectives of Navajo philosophy (a quest…

Various models of school effects on student achievement were applied in a study of reading and mathematics achievement in the 94 schools of the Oklahoma City Public Schools. The Leadership/Climate Inventory, completed by 1294 teachers, rated school principals in the areas of expectations, instructional leadership, forceful or dynamic style,…

In 1983-84, Johnson O'Malley Indian education programs operated in 17 public schools and 2 tribal preschools in Washington state, serving 1,386 students with a budget of $222,421. The overall objectives of the programs for Indian students were to increase reading and math proficiency, improve the high school graduation rate, promote cultural and…

This two-part report reviews three major areas of influence in the mathematics learning of minority children: (1) learning style, personality and self-concept influences; (2) linguistic effects; and (3) school influences. Low mathematics achievement and nonparticipation of Black, Hispanic, and Native American children have become concerns of…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Education Programs Receive Little Funding: Striving Readers One of Only a Handful of Programs to Receive Small…

This report is based on inspections of mathematics in primary and secondary schools carried out between August 2002 and April 2005. In addition to schools inspected, Her Majesty's (HM) Inspectors also visited primary and secondary schools to observe and describe aspects of best practice. This report also draws on pupils' attainment in Scottish…

For comparison with tests and curriculum in the United States, excerpts from mathematics sections of university entrance examinations in Japan are presented. The impact of tests tightly tied to curriculum is discussed, and test results are summarized. Sample student responses to the examinations are also reviewed. (SLD)