One of the most important concerns expressed in A Nation at Risk (National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1984) was being related to how effectively classroom instruction time was being used in America's schools. In response to that report, many concerned educators and community patrons at national, state, and local levels argued that…

In Spring 2006 California released its first ever school-level Academic Performance Index (API) scores for English Learners (ELs). These EL-API scores were based on California Standards Tests in English language arts and math taken in the spring of 2005. The new EL-API data make it clear that elementary schools vary widely in their ability to get…

This article examines how gender construction and the literacy experiences of Black adolescent females can be shaped and motivated by their interaction with specific multicultural texts. This discussion further explores how current theories of race, identity and gender construction, and literacy learning in English language arts classrooms inform…

This guide for parents indicates ways in which they can help their childen succeed in school. Sections focusing on language arts and mathematics list skills that students are required to master in kindergarten through fifth grades and suggest language arts activities for parents to implement at home. (RH)

The City University of New York (CUNY) instituted an open admissions policy in 1970 which provides all New York City high school graduates with an opportunity to attend college. Given the wide academic range of students now attending CUNY, compensatory models are being developed and evaluated in order to effectively deal with skill deficiencies.…

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of an additional basic language-development program on the science academic achievement of low-achieving kindergarten pupils. From responses on a performance test, an experimental and a control group were formed. Both groups received instruction in science. The experimental group also received…

A recent study in Baltimore shows that the inclusion of a structured cognitive skills program in the language arts curriculum significantly improved student verbal performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). (MD)

A study was conducted of differences in academic performance of boys and girls in Wales, exploring factors that might explain any differences and making recommendations about further studies that might be needed. The statistical analysis is based on statutory assessment and examination results for Wales. At an all-Wales level, for all subjects,…

This report describes an external review of education reform in Oklahoma that focuses on standards and assessment for benchmarking in English language arts and mathematics, including the related standards and assessments of the American College Testing (ACT) program. Data collection involved analysis of written documents; interviews with leaders…

Student achievement has been low in language arts in Suburban Chicago, Illinois school districts. This action research project was designed to determine the effect of incorporating multiple intelligence strategies into the language arts curriculum. The targeted students were in the second, third, and fifth grades, in a western suburb of Chicago,…

Discusses a study (of computer assisted instruction) which utilizes test instruments and other techniques commonly used in schools to facilitate teachers' understanding of the procedures and results of the research. (RD)

Investigated the joint effects of attitude survey format and language arts achievement level on students' (N=82) attitudes toward reading. Results indicate no significant main effect on attitude responses due to achievement level but the main effect due to survey format was significant. Interaction between achievement level and format was also…

This article reports the technical quality of a measure describing the quality of classroom assignments piloted in the Los Angeles Unified School District's proposed new accountability system. For this study, 181 teachers were sampled from 35 schools selected at random. Participating teachers submitted three language arts assignments with samples…

This issue of the Center's "Systems Newsletter" will be the last one published under the aegis of Dr. JoyceVanTassel-Baska, the Center's founder and current Executive Director. As of this August Dr. VanTassel-Baska will officially retire from the College of William and Mary and the Center. She will still be an integral part of the Center…

The present study examined the extent to which motivation contributes to the prediction of school achievement among elementary school children beyond general mental ability ("g"). The sample consisted of "N" = 1678 nine-year-old UK elementary school children who took part in the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS). Teachers…