This document comprises four papers from a symposium on using an inquiry-based observation tool for assessing teaching and learning on various educational levels. The first paper, "Introduction, and Overview and Use of the Tool for K-12 Science, Mathematics, and Technology Program Evaluation" (M. Jean Young), presents an overview of the tool…

This study describes the existing "state of the state" with regard to preservice elementary science preparation at colleges and universities in Texas. Data consisted of responses from 61 educational institutions involved in elementary teacher preparation on a 50-item survey mailed to 98 institutions in Texas. Data analysis focused on…

The qualitative study described in this document presents Virginia teachers' perceptions on 10 factors that influence their work environment: resources/instructional materials; physical facilities/class size; professional development; teacher-teacher interactions; teacher-administrator interactions; teacher-student interactions;…

As part of an ongoing evaluation of the Chelsea Public School System-Boston University (BU) partnership in Massachusetts, a survey was done of 165 teachers to determine their reactions to this effort at school reform and their opinions concerning several matters related to education in Chelsea and the Chelsea-BU partnership. A year and a half…

The Neglected or Delinquent Program (N or D) of the Columbus (Ohio) Public Schools is designed to provide classrooms and tutorial services in language development for students served in facilities eligible for Chapter 1 aid for the neglected or delinquent. In the 1990-91 school year, one full-time N or D teacher and 12 part-time tutors served 153…

Materials from a training session on assessing teaching effectiveness via a clinical supervision model are presented. The historical development of classroom observations and instruments is summarized, and the five-step method of clinical supervision (Goldhammer, 1969) is detailed. One step toward the improvement of classroom instruction through…

To determine if cooperative planning between the library media specialist (LMS) and the classroom teacher affects the integration of information access skills into the curriculum, classroom teachers in grades 1 through 5 were surveyed in 10 randomly selected schools in Cobb County (Georgia). Of the 183 teachers surveyed, 131 returned…

This sourcebook is designed to give urban educators new information and strategies for working with parents of elementary school students through grade 6. Its five workshops explore how family life, school programs, teacher practices, and district policies can help build school-family partnerships for learning. Threaded through these workshops are…

This study evaluated the predictive validity of the Caregiver's School Readiness Inventory (CSRI), a new screening measure developed for use in situations in which it may not be appropriate to employ traditional screening measures to identify preschool children at risk for school failure. The three items of the CSRI concern: (1) children's books…

This report describes local procedures for implementing Chapter 1 requirements for selecting limited English-proficient (LEP) students for Chapter 1 programs, and describes services for LEP students through Chapter 1 and language programs. Case studies of 14 school districts in 6 states were conducted to help the Department of Education formulate…

This catalog, an outcome of the Project To Access Choice in Education (PACE), lists examples of public schools throughout the nation offering choices in education. "Schools of Choice" are defined as those offering one or more of the following three dynamics: (1) open enrollment, the freedom for families to choose the elementary or secondary…

Information on public elementary schools and secondary schools is presented for the 1989-90 school year and the 1989 fiscal year. Statistics are based on data collected via two of the four surveys of the Common Core of Data conducted annually by the National Center for Education Statistics and provided by state education agencies from their…

The two goals of this program were to increase the number of classroom teachers using the lab and to increase the amount of time that the science lab was used. The solution strategy chosen was a combination of peer tutoring, orientation presentations, small group discovery experiments and activities, and individual science experiment stations. The…

This practicum was designed to expand the scope of the inservice mathematics manipulative training program to address the lack of parent and teacher understanding of the use of manipulatives that are used by Chapter I math tutors to remediate students. A second aim was to acquaint and assist parents and teachers with remediation of educationally…

This program assessment instrument was developed to identify criteria for excellence in science in Alaskan schools. It was designed to be used by administrators, professional staff and community representatives to assess science programs. The instrument contains categories of items which are to be rated on a five-point scale ranging from "not…