The What Works Briefs are a series of short, easy-to-read, "how-to" information packets designed to: (1) promote practices that support young children's social and emotional development and prevent challenging behaviors; (2) highlight practices, strategies, and intervention procedures that have been found to effectively prevent and address…

This paper examines how policies on student behavior and attendance are used to push students into dropping out of school. Although in the public mind the proliferation of dropouts is associated with a drain on the economy, there is no real evidence to indicate either that there actually are large numbers of dropouts or that dropping out is…

Noting the difficulty in translating constructivist theory into effective practice, this study examined how primary school teachers implemented constructivist education into their kindergarten through second-grade classrooms. Participating in the study were six teachers who had received master's degrees from a constructivist program and who had…

This paper examines some of the theoretical changes that have led the field of instructional and educational technology into a time of critical transactions. It begins by outlining some of the standard notions and assumptions within the field of instructional technology, and goes on to examine how they may be changing as a result of influences of…

This booklet contains two papers that won the 1998 Audiovisual Education Prize of the Japan Audio-Visual Education Association. "Nurturing the Ability To Live in an Advanced Information Network Society: Making the Most Effective Use of Networking" reports on a study of 7th grade students in Okazaki City (Japan). The focus was on an…

This study examined how recent federal, state, and district policies shape the design and implementation of schoolwide programs for Title I students in the Chicago Public Schools (Illinois). Four inner city elementary schools were selected for the study. Two had academic outcomes higher than expected, and the other two had lower academic outcomes…

This booklet, part of a series of reports on "hot topics" in education review the research and conventional wisdom concerning retention and promotion and includes an exploration of alternative practices that can be used to prevent failure and improve a student's chances for successful remediation. The booklet also describes how two…

The findings of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) are approached from the perspective of mathematics educators and education decision makers at state and local levels. Some key findings are highlighted to show problems and successes in mathematics teaching and…

A study examined school factors and teacher factors contributing to primary grade students' reading growth and reading achievement. It investigated school and classroom variables in effective schools as compared to moderately effective and less effective schools and also looked at classroom practices of accomplished teachers as compared to less…

Junior colleges, which began to expand in size and importance in the 1960s, have had a profound impact on the economy and social structure of Taiwan. The junior colleges of Taiwan resemble tech prep programs in the United States. Today, 74 junior colleges in Taiwan enroll 200,000 students in grades 10-14 and almost another 200,000 in 2-year…

This report presents first-year results of a multistage research study that examines the progress made during the past decade by the 50 states and six regional accrediting associations toward establishing and implementing higher education teaching and learning assessment policies. The report provides a history of state and regional assessment…

Understanding German elementary and secondary schools requires knowledge of political, geographic, economic, and social aspects of Germany. German schools have developed in accordance with the prevailing influences of their times. People and events, throughout the past 400 years, are discussed. The legal status of education in Germany is similar…

This monograph provides an overview of intervention and programming strategies for students with emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD) based on the behavioral approach. It reviews the progress of the behavioral perspective in education from its earliest beginnings to the present and describes its major characteristics, chief proponents,…

This paper reports on a study of issues teacher educators face as they attempt to integrate technology into their instructional program: (1) the support they receive for use of technology, (2) their expectations of students to use technology, (3) their personal use of technology, (4) their knowledge of national, state, and local technology…

This interim report provides findings on Title I services and policies and on instructional practices and their impact on student performance over the first 2 years of the Longitudinal Evaluation of School Change and Performance (LESCP). The LESCP is being conducted in 71 elementary schools in 7 states and 18 school districts that moved early to…