Since 2001-2002, standards-based accountability (SBA) provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) have shaped the work of public school teachers and administrators in the United States. NCLB requires each state to develop content and achievement standards in several subjects, administer tests to measure students' progress toward…

In 2002, the RAND Corporation launched a project to understand how educators are responding to the new accountability requirements in California, Georgia, and Pennsylvania--three states that represent a range of approaches, regions, and student populations. The researchers aimed to identify the factors that enhance the implementation of SBA…

The reading, writing, speaking and listening standards in this paper describe what Pennsylvania students should know and be able to do with the English language at four grade levels (third, fifth, eighth and eleventh). The standards provide the targets for instruction and student learning essential for success in all academic areas, not just…

This tool kit begins with sections that define information literacy, identify information literacy skills, discuss the integration of information literacy into the K-12 curriculum, present an integration/collaboration model, and address collaboration between the school library information specialist and administrators or the instructional team, as…

A Carnegie Foundation survey, conducted in 1988, found that teachers were critical of the education reform movement in general and standardized statewide testing in particular. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the impact of state-mandated testing programs on the work lives of teachers and students. It compares two states'…

The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) brought new challenges and opportunities for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). Like many states, Pennsylvania was faced with adding assessments in grades 4, 6 and 7 in reading and mathematics. However, unlike most states, Pennsylvania did not respond to NCLB by simply adding…

This handbook, issued in conjunction with the Governor's "Agenda for Excellence in Pennsylvania Public Schools," provides recommendations for revising promotion policies and practices in Pennsylvania schools. After a brief introduction, the results of a survey of promotion and retention practices are presented in summary form, followed…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that examined the use of accommodations in state assessment by students with disabilities and explored several related factors. A survey of states indicated 12 states (Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West…

The author defines "middle schoolism" as "an approach to educating children in the middle grades (usually grades 5-8), popularized in the latter half of the 20th century, that contributed to a precipitous decline in academic achievement among American early adolescents." She argues that many middle schools are on the right…

This study investigated the relationship between the characteristics of Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Award Winners/Nominees and the criteria used in Pennsylvania college and university teacher education programs to select future teachers. A questionnaire was submitted to the 201 teachers identified as outstanding which gathered data regarding…

The purpose of this study was to identify the professional horticultural competencies that vocational horticultural teachers must perform successfully and to distinguish between those competencies needed by entry level teachers and those needed by experienced teachers. A secondary purpose was to examine differences in the ratings of the…

State governors' comments about higher education in their state of the state addresses include the effects of recent reforms, in-state retention of students, education and industry's needs, high college costs, academic preparation for college, faculty dissatisfaction, statewide cohesiveness, efficiency, economic development, and governance reform.…

This document presents the Pennsylvania Early Childhood Learning Continuum Indicators, the developmental steps that a learner performs to demonstrate knowledge as stated in the state's Academic Standards. The indicators are not academic standards themselves, but focus on preschool through Grade 2 skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening,…

Public schools in Pennsylvania were created to educate children to be useful citizens, loyal to the principles upon which the nation was founded, and aware of their duties as citizens to maintain those ideals. This document includes 4 critical elements of civics and government standards that describe what students should know and be able to…

Studies show that afterschool programs improve academic achievement, reduce grade retention and increase student attendance and interest in school. Across the country, afterschool is a key element in strategies to turn around under-performing schools. The superintendent of Philadelphia and the governor of Virginia have used afterschool to turn…