A review of the literature on school effectiveness identifies elements at the system level and the building level that contribute to effectiveness. The literature also provides diagnostic tools for evaluating one of the most important components of school effectiveness, school culture and climate. (SLD)

After reviewing the literature comparing resource room and consultation models for serving children with low achievement, this paper addresses six best practices: peer tutoring, direct instruction in basic skills, precision teaching, cooperative learning, computer-aided instruction, and applied behavior analysis. Teacher attitudes and behaviors…

Explores the relationship between educational theory and practice by describing the following three categories in an expanded view of scholarly activity in education: (1) studying school improvement programs; (2) creating new ways of taking action on new knowledge; and (3) building new collaborative structures between schools and universities.…

Describes some of the basic principles of total quality management (TQM) and its application to education. A case example of a principal's experience implementing TQM is presented, and implications for researchers and practitioners are drawn. Without critical dialog about purpose, TQM will worsen rather than improve educational inequalities. (SLD)

Warm Springs Elementary School (Oregon) received national recognition for its model professional development program due to principal Dawn Smith's leadership. Reduction of teacher turnover and student misbehavior at the reservation school was followed by Title I and charter school status, and English-as-second language and American Indian language…

Reviews study that found, through use of a "performance instruction" model, a significant misalignment between the cognitive complexity levels of planned course content and that which is tested. (32 citations) (YKH)

Analyzes the distinction between an academic discipline and its corresponding school subject and how this affects curriculum development. Examines the range of possibilities for the relationship between the two concepts and interprets the meaning of each possibility. Describes a series of actual curricular proposals associated with each…

High schools can have a positive effect on Hispanic students' academic success by cultivating an advocacy-oriented school environment that implements effective practices in four areas: dropout prevention, effective instruction, psychoeducational assessment, and understanding and easing the acculturation process. Contains 47 references. (TD)

A study investigated the relationship between what teachers reported they do in their elementary (n=91) and middle school (n=64) classrooms and students' perceptions of classroom activities. Magnet school gifted students reported significantly more challenge than their gifted and other peers at the middle school level, whereas no such differences…

Provides an overview of key research findings that confirm that changes in teacher practices and external support for teaching and learning affect student achievement. Analyzes individual research-based classroom practices that affect student achievement and support a systemic, holistic approach: clear academic focus and frequent assessments,…

This study examined predictors of process quality among Hong Kong preschools. Findings indicated significant intercorrelations among structural, management-related, and process measures of quality. Process quality (teacher-child interaction, curriculum goals) was higher in preschools exceeding government requirements for staff qualifications,…

Recent educational reforms in China are placing increasing emphasis on the integration of new technologies in the English language curriculum. At the same time, a debate has begun concerning the effectiveness of Information Technology (IT) usage in transforming language pedagogy in the Chinese context. In response to points made in the discussions…

An eight-year study of 49 schools purporting to practice and apply Quality Management (QM) techniques and processes uncovered some revealing differences between what respondents thought "should be" happening in these schools and what they reported was happening. The gaps uncovered could be recognized as differences between rhetoric and…

This article sets the scene for the other papers in this Special Issue on children's and young people's participation, by outlining the nature of the ESRC Seminar Series from which all are derived and by developing the main themes discussed at the seminars. The focus of this Issue is participation by children and young people as this relates to…

We queried Florida elementary teachers about how they perceived their principals' professional and personal inviting leadership behaviors during a time when many teachers and principals felt a lot of pressure due to test-based accountability. Despite the pressure, teachers reported that their principals demonstrated fairly high levels of inviting…