From 2016, all Western Australian schools were mandated to implement the National Quality Standard (NQS) in Kindergarten through to Year 2. Over the first year of implementation, this mandate had varying degrees of success in adoption. This study examined four schools which were identified as having implemented the NQS. A qualitative methodology…

This report provides a comprehensive review of the research on the effect of K-12 school funding on student outcomes. In other words, does money matter in education? This is the third edition of this review, with the first two editions having been published in 2012 and 2016. In the previous edition of this report, the authors reviewed the evidence…

This article presents the regulation on "Raudhatul Athfal" (RA) as an early childhood educational institution equivalent to kindergarten but has special Islamic characteristics developed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in formal education for children aged 4 (four) to 6 (six). This study used a descriptive qualitative method with…

This study aimed to determine the degree of availability of comprehensive quality standards (objectives, content, management, the role of academic supervisors, the role of the kindergarten headmistress, the role of cooperative teachers, the assessment of the practicum) for improvement the practicum training of the Kindergarten program in Saudi…

In this analysis, the authors describe current approaches to assessing the effectiveness of math curricula and identify potential opportunities to further tailor effectiveness studies to the needs of the practitioners who rely on the research to make adoption decisions. Through analysis of 61 effectiveness studies, supplemented by expert…

Pedagogical documentation has been understood as an important way for early childhood educators to provide high-quality learning environments for children. The authors explore the contested nature of quality and its interpretation in two cultural contexts: in Western Australia, where pedagogical documentation is a relatively uncommon practice, and…

Much research has noted the misalignment between kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) academic standards and curriculum materials used in classrooms. Many states and education organizations have been pushing for greater use of standards-aligned curriculum, especially during the past several years. In this report, the authors share results…

ECERS [Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale] is widely used in the United States and internationally to assess the overall quality of preschool and kindergarten classrooms and to provide a framework for continuous quality improvement. This new book in the ERS® Family presents best practices to help coaches build trusting relationships with…

Purpose: This paper is one of seven in this volume that aims to elaborate different approaches to quality improvement in education. It delineates a methodology called Lean for Education. Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents the origins, theoretical foundations, core concepts and a case study demonstrating an application in US education,…

"Agents of Change" is a compilation of thought-provoking insights, opinions, personal stories, and suggested actions for change in the K-12 education system in Pakistan. It validates how good schooling can alleviate poverty and advance societal development through equitable opportunity for quality education. Clear and precise proposals…

With the passage of the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states were required to add a fifth indicator on "School Quality or Student Success" (SQSS) to their school accountability systems. An analysis of submitted ESSA state plans found that 13 states included measures of school climate as their SQSS indicator or incorporated…

Schools often struggle to attract and retain high-performing teachers and to develop or remove low-performing ones. In this study, the researchers considered whether this is true in New Orleans where almost all schools are charters with flexibility over personnel policies and practices, and where schools compete against one another and face…

In November, amid a global pandemic and economic crisis, voters will choose the next president of the United States. Clearly, there will be no shortage of pressing issues to tackle within the first 100 days of the next administration. Addressing COVID-19 and the economy will certainly be top agenda items, but regardless of this election's outcome,…

While virtual learning environments are not new for many school leaders, the unexpected shift to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in intensified focus on the need for school leadership to ensure equitable learning in virtual environments. When considering virtual learning for the future, new and current adopters will have…

A decade ago, states across the nation adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in an effort to raise the academic bar for their students. This has provoked countless political battles since then--including an especially intense one in Florida. That fight culminated in Governor Ron DeSantis vowing to eliminate and replace the Common Core,…