The District of Columbia Public Schools has adopted new learning standards for core subjects, including reading/English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The new standards show what students should know and be able to do: (1) in each subject; (2) at each grade level; and (3) in every school. This publication guides parents…

This bulletin discusses approaches that reformers are using nationwide to bring about improvement in urban schools. It focuses on (1) embracing more choices (school vouchers, charter schools, private management, public school transfers, home schooling, enrolling high school students in community colleges, and virtual education); (2) holding…

The content, scope, and methodology of dissertations on adult mathematics education in North American were examined. The study database consisted of the abstracts of 113 dissertations written between 1980 and 2000. The topics covered in the individual dissertations were as follows: assessment/frameworks/standards (14); contexts (3); instructional…

An evidence-based connection between adult educator professional development (PD) and learner outcomes is difficult to document, yet there is an intuitive assumption that professional development is linked to better teaching and learning outcomes. The field appears to be shifting away from one-shot PD to practitioner engagement in sustained,…

This book addresses the concepts, values, principles, and practices of the principalship. Its five major themes are as follows: (1) toward a new theory; (2) providing leadership; (3) building community; (4) the development of human resources; and (5) the moral dimension. Chapter titles reflect its contents: (1) "Views of the Principal's…

Researchers explored ways institutions in the post-16 education sector in England and Wales can formulate recruitment and admissions policies that encourage students to stay in college. Data were drawn from the following sources: seminars attended by representatives of the post-16 sector; analysis of the findings of 86 Further Education Funding…

This concept paper addresses the preparation of vocational education teachers. Several topics are listed with comments, and, in some cases, supporting documentation has been abstracted. These topics correspond to reasons for the lack of national visibility within Florida as indicated by the 2001 rankings in the U.S. News and World Report that…

Some 40 years after the inception of management simulation games, the effectiveness of games in management education/training remains unclear. Despite the lack of consensus regarding the teaching and grading methods to be used in conjunction with such games, it is clear that well-conducted simulation games can provide excellent experiential…

This report identifies and describes practices that support the achievement of students enrolled in five high performing, high poverty elementary schools. Findings indicate that despite variations, the school share many similarities in terms of the strategies they employ to strengthen academic performance: (1) the schools embrace the belief that…

Wisconsin's Open Enrollment program, which policymakers hope will improve educational performance by introducing competition to public schools, allows students to enroll in any district in the state, provided space is available. First implemented in the 1998-1999 school year, the program now includes 1% of all Wisconsin K-12 students. In its first…

The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest public school system in the United States, and one of the largest organizations of any kind in the country. As with urban school systems across the country, the Los Angeles school district is under enormous pressure to improve. The district is under public scrutiny and is the subject of…

This report is a sequel to the Council of Great City Schools' 2004 report "Restoring Excellence to the DC Public Schools" that prompted the district school system to develop a new strategic plan, adopt strong academic standards, recruit new talent and accelerate professional development, and generally overhaul both buildings and…

The emergence of globalization and its impact on knowledge, communications, economies, social structures, and institutions such as education is rapidly changing the context, content, and methods of teachers' work. Consequently, the continuing professional development of teachers, especially in Australia with its aging teacher force, is essential.…

This paper overviews strategies employed by the Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative (ARSI) to implement systemic reform in math, science, and technology education in rural Appalachia. ARSI is one of four Rural Systemic Initiative projects funded by the National Science Foundation to target regions characterized by low population density and high…

Between 1993 and 1996, Henry Ford Community College (Michigan) worked with business, industry, and technical instructors to revise their Technical Mathematics program in accordance with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards. The purpose of the project was to restructure the technical math curriculum and create a context…