This study examined the effect of small class size intervention on student outcomes using reading achievement scores as measured by the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS), a standardized, norm-referenced test, while controlling for independent variables inclusive of students' gender, race, socioeconomic status (SES), and environment. This…

Since 2012, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has supported educational enrichment in rural areas by awarding over $3.3 million in grants to six outstanding organizations operating in Iowa, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. In this report, the authors combine the experiences of these organizations with findings from the…

The field of teacher preparation is falling short of its most important responsibility: ensuring that the teachers we train are ready to do the job. For more than a decade,TNTP preparation programs produced teachers who were no more or less effective than teachers from any other program-- some were great, some were poor, most were about average.…

A startling number of students arrive at the doors of colleges and universities lacking the essential skills and knowledge required to succeed there. If given the proper tools and supports, the great majority of these students would be able to achieve their goals in and outside of the classroom. But most of them are shuttled off to developmental…

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent digital portfolios would affect mathematics achievement, attitudes, and self-perceptions of themselves as mathematics learners of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students. The study analyzed the effect of digital portfolios on the students' performance on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills.…

As educators, government officials, and foundations leaders have embraced the agenda of dramatically increasing college success and credential completion, they have come to understand the need for better data on student outcomes to guide the improvement efforts of institutions, systems, and states. The data on degree completion and other final…

Drawing from six years of qualitative research, this article analyzes the broad range of proposed and existing homeschool regulations throughout the United States. It argues that current homeschool regulations--and most proposals for how to improve them--misjudge the complexity of such an endeavor; state resources are misused and the basic…

The Better Schools Program began in 1984 throughout Tennessee. This 10-point program improved achievement by emphasizing basic skills, computer skills, increased math and science requirements, special programs, and a redefinition of vocational education. Sensitive issues such as year-round schools and incentive pay for teachers have been…

Raises philosophical and technical questions about the Tennessee minimum competency testing program, including: what subject and skills are basic; who determines what competencies are minimal; what should be the consequences of failure; who is responsible for remediation of failing students; do or should skills being taught match skills being…

Tennessee's Right to Read Effort is described in terms of six on-going programs: State Leadership and Training (the basics and free reading); Reading Improvement (pre-elementary and elementary schools); Special Emphasis (intensive instruction); Adult Reading Academy (for the functionally illiterate); Reading Is Fundamental (community book…

Results of the Tennessee Basic Skills Test administered statewide to more than 64,000 grade 8 pupils in April 1980 demonstrate that achievement of pupils with kindergarten background is superior to that of non-kindergarten pupils in mathematics, spelling, language, and reading. The effect was greater for mathematics and language than for reading…

Competency needs are identified by the Tennessee Higher Education Committee: (1) writing, reading, speaking, and calculating for practical purposes; (2) basic understanding of history, science, economics, literature, etc; and (3) logical thinking, moral sensibility, and personal awareness. (Author/LBH)

This collection of papers on the history of developmental education includes: "Historical Perspectives: With Hindsight We Gain Foresight" (Normal Stahl); "Supporting the Research Mission" (David V. Taylor); "A Brief History of the American Council of Developmental Education Associations" (Hunter R. Boylan);…

This study of eighth graders investigates the effects of Kindergarten attendance on (1) Basic Skills Test (BST) performance and (2) the incidence of grade retention (non-promotion). To accomplish the first purpose, over 64,000 eighth grade pupils in the public schools of Tennessee were administered the BST. On each answer sheet of the BST pupils…

This report covers the activities of the Knox County Mathematics Basic Skills Improvement Project from September 1980 to September 1982. The purpose of the project was to raise the level of student performance in the basic skill area of mathematics in the Knox County School System through the development of a restructured curriculum for grades…