ERIC Number: ED452273
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2001-Apr-13
Pages: 24
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Student Achievement: Is Equality Really Necessary?
Byrd, Jimmy K.
This study was conducted to: (1) determine if the intercession calendar, an alternative calendar that reduces the total school year for students who do not need remediation, positively impacts overall student achievement; (2) to assess the explanatory ability of the intercession model in accounting for student academic achievement variability; and (3) to determine the variables which differentiate among the treatment group using discriminate analysis. The intercession calendar was not a year-round calendar. Instead, it reduced the school year from 180 to 170 days for students of average achievement and above, with a one-week session between the grading periods for students in need of remediation. Results for 4,474 students in 10 school districts show that the intercession calendar had a positive impact on student academic achievement in general and on reading in particular. In addition, the intercession calendar had a positive effect on economically disadvantaged students passing all Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) examinations simultaneously. The results of this study call into question a number of assumptions regarding long-held traditions of public education. Some limitations of the research are noted, and suggestions are made for further research. This alternative calendar is a systematic reform model that provides individualized assistance to each student within the school district. The intercession calendar is attached. (Contains 2 tables and 14 references.) (Author/SLD)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A