Homework is a requirement for most school-age children, but research on the benefits and drawbacks of homework is limited by lack of psychometrically sound measurement of homework performance. This study examined the structural and convergent validity of scores from the newly developed Homework Performance Questionnaire -- Teacher Scale (HPQ-T).…

"Overlooked gems" is the term used in gifted education to describe high-potential, low-income students who are unable to excel because of significant barriers in their homes, environments, and educational systems. To address these barriers, educators have offered enrichment and other types of talent development programs to this at-risk…

Research Findings: It is widely acknowledged that consistent, high-quality teacher-student interactions promote optimal developmental outcomes for children. Previous research on the quality of teacher-student interactions provides empirical support for this premise. Little research has been conducted on the consistency of teacher-student…

This research examined if mothers' day-to-day praise of children's success in school plays a role in children's theory of intelligence and motivation. Participants were 120 children (mean age = 10.23 years) and their mothers who took part in a 2-wave study spanning 6 months. During the first wave, mothers completed a 10-day daily interview in…

This research examined whether the benefits of parents' involvement in children's learning are due in part to value development among children. Four times over the 7th and 8th grades, 825 American and Chinese children (M age = 12.73 years) reported on their parents' involvement in their learning and their perceptions of the value their parents…

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact that professional learning communities (PLCs) have on student achievement. Through this study, the statewide performance results of a school district that implemented PLCs were examined. This study of an Illinois school district's statewide assessment results served as a foundation for further…

In 2007, the Kettering Foundation launched a nationwide, two-year research project to learn what people in communities across the nation think about the achievement gap--and what roles they see for themselves in helping young people succeed academically. The community forums, which drew more than 3,200 participants nationwide, spotlighted elements…

During the past decade, the use of standardized benchmark measures to differentiate and individualize instruction for students received renewed attention from educators. Although teachers may use their own assessments (tests, quizzes, homework, problem sets) for monitoring learning, it is challenging for them to equate performance on classroom…

This mixed methods study examines what makes Bluffview Elementary School a success as measured by the ISAT, the mandated state test of Illinois. Despite national reports of achievement gaps and low test scores, Bluffview Elementary has shown sustained success in educating children. This paper reviews how Bluffview Elementary students are achieving…

If you meet with almost any group of school administrators and ask them what the most critical factor in improving schools and increasing student achievement, they would most likely say having an outstanding faculty is the key. Common wisdom among principals is that nothing is more important to the overall success of the school than selecting…

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of parent involvement in relation to the influence on student achievement within a school community. In addition, this study worked towards gaining an understanding of the parent's role in the school community. Researching educational data may suggest that more parent involvement will have a…

This quasi-experimental study collected a comprehensive set of data on half-day and full-day kindergarten programs in the Wilmette, Illinois School District Number 39 during the 1985-1986 school year. Programs differed mainly in length of school day and number of extra activities, and not in amount of academic learning time. Student school…

NONINTELLECTIVE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN COLLEGE WERE INVESTIGATED IN THREE PHASES OF RESEARCH--(1) PERSONALITY AND MOTIVATIONAL CORRELATES OF ACADEMIC APTITUDE AND PERFORMANCE AMONG STUDENTS WHO HAD COMPLETED AT LEAST 1 YEAR OF COLLEGE WERE EXAMINED, (2) DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM FRESHMAN STUDENTS BEFORE THEY ENTERED…

This evaluation report summarizes data collected from pupil questionnaires, teacher questionniares, and parent interviews on the success of a recently implemented elementary school reorganization plan designed to enhance academic achievement. Five evaluation instruments were developed as a collaborative effort of teachers, parents, evaluators, and…

A study conducted in an Illinois metropolitan school district explored four dimensions of school-based management implementation: school leadership, school climate, student achievement, and community involvement. Survey data from 176 teachers, 42 parents, and 6 administrators revealed that length of program involvement positively influenced…