Over the last few years, much attention has been focused on the nationwide teacher shortage. As teachers begin to retire in record numbers, and the number of students entering teacher education majors continues to decline, concern around the teacher shortage heightens (US Dept. of Ed., 2016). The numbers are even more dire when looking at Teachers…

Sixty-six school districts and more than 150 schools in the state of Kansas are participating in the Kansans Can Redesign Project. In this article, we present a case study of using Design Thinking as a systemic process to structure continuous school improvement. The collage of real-life scenarios presented in our case shows the integration of…

In order to provide students with demand-driven skills that will set them up for career success, the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and state businesses collaborated to create the Simulated Workplace--powerful learning environments that transform the traditional classroom into student led companies that replicate real-world work…

For most of U.S. history, local communities were the primary arbiters of school quality. Beginning in the mid-twentieth century, states began assuming more and more control over school standards and outcomes. The question we seek to answer is whether and the extent to which a particular kind of local voice--the voice of education practitioners--is…

To remain internationally competitive, states needed clearer, higher, and comparable K-12 learning standards aligned with college and career expectations, and as ambitious as those of the countries that lead the world in education. Idaho's old academic standards were not preparing students for postsecondary education, which contributed to the…

The Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) recently revised its SLD identification policy to include a requirement to document a student's response to intervention coupled with a comprehensive evaluation. To implement this policy, the SDE is using multiple implementation drivers. In this article, we describe how and why the new policy was…

Describes New Jersey's Migrant Education Program, including legal definitions, state-level responsibilities, supportive services, and the Migrant Teacher Corps Project. (SJL)

In South Carolina, service learning is located in the state Office of Community Education. The community education state plan includes strategies for infusing service learning into community education. The state association, universities, and adult education programs are involved in service learning initiatives. (SK)

Describes two Arkansas and Maryland elementary schools--studied by the Education Commission of the States--that developed effective instructional improvement programs despite minimal budget and staff. Concludes that state education agencies can significantly improve schools through training programs that transcend traditional teacher-administrator…

Partnerships among education agencies including institutions of higher education, local school districts, and the State Department of Education offer tremendous opportunities for attaining the mutual goal of educational improvement in Mississippi. A collaborative staff development program for teachers is described. (CB)

The Education Commission of the States has identified several crucial factors that ensure successful school improvement programs, including political support, pressure for improvement, belief in students' learning ability, high-quality programs, state-level implementation strategies, and adequate resources. State agencies must also promote school…

Results are summarized of a questionnaire, completed for 48 of the 50 United States, concerning multicultural education. (New Mexico and Virginia are not included.) Questions include: the existence of a state-level program; a responsible person; multicultural certification requirements; and screening of textbooks and curriculum for racism or…

This study investigated how rural states assess programs and services provided to disabled and disadvantaged vocational education students in terms of planning and operational processes. Study findings revealed a variety of strategies for affecting the implementation of state education agency evaluations. (Author)

A major challenge facing state policymakers who are demanding a high level of accountability in education is to design an accountability mechanism to track educational reform. The structure and uses of eight exemplary approaches to accountability are examined, resulting in a set of design characteristics for state accountability mechanisms. (TJH)

Introduces four articles based on an Education Commission of the States study that identified political and demographic elements interacting to improve schools and the states' role in the change process. Discusses several conditions critical to developing successful improvement programs, including political, monetary, and technical support. (MLH)