Critical review of California's standards-aligned mathematics textbook-adoption process. Concludes that emphasis on skills-based drills aligned with standardized tests will dominate mathematics instruction in California. Hopes the other states will not follow California's example. (Contains 31 references.) (PKP)

Lesson study, the dominant form of professional development for teachers in Japan, has spread rapidly in the U.S. since 1999. In this article, the authors discuss the growth and success of lesson study at Highlands Elementary School in California's San Mateo-Foster City School District and identify conditions needed for scale-up. They also discuss…

Argues for statewide collective bargaining on teacher salaries as a way of promoting equity among teachers. The factors opposing such a program are discussed. (IRT)

In 1997, Milgram and three other university mathematicians substantially revised the draft California mathematics standards. Changes were accepted by the state Board of education without seeking public or teacher input, circumventing public process. Content knowledge is no substitute for knowledge of how students develop mathematical…

Plenty of state policies have been noteworthy in 2004, but one that had major impact went into effect in Illinois, where the governance of education was significantly restructured. S.B. 3000 (the Education Reform and Accountability Act of 2004) gives the governor greater influence over education through his or her control of the state board of…

Outlines a framework for shaping reform policies on strategies for enhancing teacher capacity, using interview data from a study conducted in California, Michigan, and Vermont. Michigan has developed subject-matter objectives and assessments, Vermont uses a portfolio assessment system to help teachers learn about problem solving and develop new…