Discussions and practices focused on Black boys' literacy development and equity in U.S. classrooms require serious thought and interrogation if the aim is to move these boys toward advanced levels of reading, writing, intellectual development, and human development. Sorely, Black boys have become subjects of educational, programming, and policy…

In their article, "The Common Core is a Change for the Better," Gardner and Powell (2013) make an argument in support of implementing the Common Core to improve teaching and student learning. They opine the Common Core will enable students to become more college and career ready and state the Common Core standards will provide…

In this essay Clinton Golding introduces a new construct and area of research--epistemic progress--and argues that it can shed new light on educational inquiry. By clearly distinguishing progress through developing better ideas (epistemic progress) from progress through developing better inquiry skills (procedural progress), teachers and students…

The commentaries in this special issue as well as the articles they address contribute to the knowledge base about advanced learners, how they are identified, and how they are best served. In our Editors' commentary, we have organized our thoughts following the same order in which the commentaries appear in the remainder of this issue. As the…

As states move to implement the Common Core State Standards, key challenges remain. One is how to make sure a high school diploma acknowledges what students have achieved. Should states adopt a two tiered diploma, in which students who pass internationally aligned Common Core exams at a career- and college-ready level receive an…

This Center for American Progress report examines whether states' adoption of standards-based policies predicts low-income students' NAEP achievement trends in fourth and eighth grade math and reading throughout the 2003-2013 decade. The report claims to analyze changes across five separate two-year intervals, but it only reports findings for…

In April, the "New England Journal of Higher Education" ("NEJHE") launched its "New Directions for Higher Education" series to examine emerging issues, trends, and ideas that have an impact on higher education policies, programs, and practices. In this installment of the series, DiSalvio speaks with Richard Arum,…

The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning are pleased to announce the winner of the 2010 Virginia B. Smith Innovative Leadership Award, Julie M. Phelps. Phelps is a professor of mathematics at Valencia Community College who teaches and has studied and refined three types of…

Previous efforts at leveling the learning field for all students have not met with success. In 1955 Johnny allegedly could not read because of the "look-and-say method" of teaching reading; 26 years later he still could not read because most elementary schools continued to use the aforementioned unproductive system. Perhaps now is…

Increasingly, the use of ideas and exercises designed to promote personal growth, empowerment, and self-reflection is being incorporated into interpersonal communication (IP) textbooks, and presumably IP courses as well. The purpose of this essay is to engage the academic discipline in a conversation about transformative education within the…

This article presents an interview with Gene Chasin, CEO of Accelerated Schools Plus. Chasin discusses changing schools and improving student achievement. Accelerated Schools is a national endeavor that is designed to transform whole school communities. It views the community as being much broader. It includes students, teachers, parents, other…

Offers the following recommendations to improve the quality of accounting graduates: (1) auditing should be covered in two semesters, (2) effective business writing should be required, (3) two case studies courses should be required, and (4) essay questions and comprehensive problems should be emphasized. (JOW)

Vocational education's commitment to student organizations stems from the belief that the total development of individuals is essential to the preparation of competent workers. It has been shown that student organization activities are effective in teaching critical skills necessary for students to reach their full potential. (JOW)

Maintains that putting a number or letter grade on student writing is fundamentally wrong. Argues that trashing the traditional grading system is the best thing that could be done to ensure better reading and writing among students. (SR)

Reviews the use of drugs to treat hyperactivity in children. Finds that not all studies support the use of drugs to produce increased learning and control behavior. Suggests that, given the contradictory findings, counselors ought to taken an active role in students' drug therapy, monitoring their behavior and academic performance. (ABB)