This article introduces a conversation with Brett Peiser, named chief executive officer of "Uncommon Schools" in July of 2012, along with the principal of North Star Academy Vailsburg Middle School, a charter school in Newark, New Jersey's West Ward. There is no doubt that "Uncommon Schools" has given thousands of low-income…

Lewison and Hawes (1997) discuss target marketing strategies of differentiated, concentrated or orchestrated marketing in their article "Student Marketing Strategies for Universities." While the authors agree with some of the suggested strategies and reasons behind them, their perspective as faculty teaching in a graduate education program offers…

The recent creation of Web 2.0 applications dramatically alters the ways in which universities recruit and educate students. Technology insiders usually attribute the phrase "Web 2.0" to Tim O'Reilly, author and publisher of the ubiquitous O'Reilly series of technology books (http://oreilly.com). Although there is no shortage of definitions of Web…

The quality of the teacher in the classroom is the most important factor in raising student achievement, as Linda Darling-Hammond noted, and educators should offer their students nothing less than well-trained and well-supported teachers. Providing high-quality teachers is of particular importance in low-income communities of color, where the most…

The importance of teacher quality for determining student outcomes is now well established. At the same time, the translation of what is known about teacher quality into effective policy is far from being institutionalized. The simplest summary of research into teacher quality is that some teachers are dramatically more effective than others but…

After the quality of a school's teachers, the quality of a school's leaders is the most influential school-based factor affecting student learning, and research indicates that leadership impacts student achievement the most in academic settings serving students who traditionally have not done well in school. In an effort to provide high-quality…

This issue of CPRE Policy Briefs summarizes the findings on issues related to teacher quality in the chapter by the author in the book, "The State of Education Policy Research" (Cohen, Fuhrman, Mosher, Eds., 2007). This report also draws on discussions that took place during a summer, 2006, policy briefing on teacher labor-market issues…

Differentiated practice structures the roles and functions of nurses according to education, experience, and competence. Although differentiation has increased staff retention and reduced recruiting costs, improvements in patient care are difficult to prove. (SK)

Presents suggestions for improving the quality of new employees: look for applicants with solid academic and extracurricular achievement; make sure that all technical job qualifications are valid; broaden the recruitment base; target high-scholarship schools; encourage technical people to broaden their knowledge base; and upgrade inhouse…

Buying students with academic scholarships is self-defeating. It is unfair to students paying full price, unjust awards undermine reputation, competition can spiral, students are counseled to choose schools for aid alone, and parents are offended when scholarships are not offered and when their "scholarship" students get average grades. (MSE)

Examines concept of "lifelong learning" and analyzes its role and its viability within the current higher education system in the U.K. Discusses attitudes toward adult students. Identifies shortcomings in efforts to attract and motivate mature learners and discusses ways in which to improve such efforts. (Contains 48 references.) (KSB)

Addresses the question of effect on college and universities that coming revolution in retention strategies will have. Points out that more colleges will be requiring validation of intellectual accomplishment before, during, and at the end of the college career. (Author/ABB)

Ten recommendations for teacher educators are given, concerning the relationship between teacher behavior and student achievement, teaching students to think, student recruitment, curriculum based on sound educational theory, counseling students, clinical experience, leadership, competence in subject matter or technical area, and being an example…

The first group response on the state of American education from the educational community is reported. These educators agree that debate is healthy, but are concerned that the nation prepare for long-term solutions rather than a "quick fix." (MD)

More than half of entering community college students lack the basic skills required to do college-level academic work. Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians disproportionately rely on community colleges as their point of initial access to higher education, making the issue of preparation inherently tied to factors of race and ethnicity. In some…