To evaluate the adequacy and efficiency of preschool education in California, the RAND Corporation has undertaken the California Preschool Study to improve understanding of achievement gaps in the early elementary grades, the adequacy of preschool education currently given, and what efficiencies or additional resources might be brought to bear in…

In this study of the scope of reading and study skills programs in California colleges, 97 college catalogs, written for 1974-75, were studied, and on-site visits were made to 25 colleges. Information reported concerns the type of college departments offering reading programs, program formats and scheduling, diagnosis of reading needs, the degree…

The Simi Star Project, a collaborative grant among six southern California school districts (Simi Valley, Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Orcutt, and Point Hueneme) and IBM, tested the effectiveness of computers in the classroom and the effects of integrating technology into the curriculum. Six networked computers were placed in kindergarten and…

Describes creating a middle school literacy approach that combines teaming and exploratory experiences with a technology-based intervention. Considers classroom environment, the literacy workshop, the Peabody Learning Lab software, evaluation, multi-media projects, teacher support, and assessment. (JPB)

The purpose of this report is to provide education professors teaching early literacy methods courses with information for beginning teachers to support struggling first-grade readers. This analysis identifies the specific word structures children are expected to know by the end of first grade, and shows the actual learning rates of these…

"Literacy Express" is a comprehensive preschool curriculum designed for three- to five-year-old children. It is structured around units on oral language, emergent literacy, basic math, science, general knowledge, and socio-emotional development. It can be used in half- or full-day programs with typically developing children and children…

A study examined specific reading competencies after participating in Hmong literacy instruction in an after-school setting in the Thermalito, California School District, grades kindergarten through 4. Control and treatment groups were established to compare the English literacy skills of the Hmong students who participated in 40 hours of primary…

AS THE RESULT OF A CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE MANDATE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LANGUAGE PROGRAM BEGINNING AT THE SIXTH GRADE LEVEL, WEST HIGH SCHOOL SET UP A TWO-FOLD LANGUAGE ACHIEVEMENT TEST TO ACCURATELY PLACE QUALIFIED STUDENTS IN ADVANCED COURSES AND TO GET A GENERAL IDEA OF THE LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT OF INCOMING STUDENTS WITH VARIOUS DEGREES OF…

IN A LARGE-SCALE FIELD TEST WITH FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE ADULTS, THIS PROJECT EVALUATED FOUR READING SYSTEMS--LEARNING TO READ AND SPELL, READING IN HIGH GEAR, MOTT BASIC LANGUAGE SKILLS PROGRAM, AND SYSTEMS FOR SUCCESS. TESTING WAS CONDUCTED IN SEVEN COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK, THREE IN NEW JERSEY, AND FIVE IN CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING A MIXTURE OF…

Examines the history of California's reading program, reviewing its change to a literature-based approach and then back again to a phonetic- or skill-based one. Reviews key factors influencing California policy and speculates about the future of the state's reading program. (TB)

This guide, for junior and senior high school teachers, school board members, community groups, counselors, and administrators, describes the fundamental competencies in English and mathematics expected of a student who begins any baccalaureate degree program. In the Statment on Competencies, fundamental reading, writing and mathematics skills are…

This report presents the findings of a California study on the demographic and educational characteristics and pre-enrollment language skills of over 265,000 newly legalized persons beginning legalization education programs. Data summarized about this population include immigration history, nationality, language background, age, distribution of…

California's Pupil Proficiency Law requires each local school district to adopt standards of proficiency in the basic skills of reading comprehension, writing, and computation. Students are to be assessed in grades 4-11. Students not making sufficient progress towards meeting the district's standards are to be provided with remedial programs, and…

Addressing the issue of testing and evaluation in English at the university level, this paper focuses on the development and use of the English Placement Test developed by the California State University system. The discussion of this testing program is placed within a framework of four testing principles: testing is an essential part of learning…

Tens of thousands of California's 4-year-olds are not enrolled in preschool, ranking California 37th in the nation in preschool enrollment. Pioneering communities throughout the state are working to meet the demand for preschool in their neighborhoods. The achievements of these innovative local efforts indicate the future success of a statewide…