This Stage Two Academic Re-entry guidance builds upon the Stage One guidance that was issued by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). Stage Two focuses on support on meeting the academic needs of learners through the formative assessment process. Formative assessment is a critical component of a balanced assessment system that can greatly…

Instead of putting the entire achievement burden on schools, what would it look like to hold a whole community responsible for long-range student outcomes? This report explores the concept of "shared accountability" in education. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act ushered in a new era of accountability in American education: for the…

The educational achievement and attainment of young people in the United States has been a long-standing issue of concern. While analyses of long-term trend data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show that students in the United States have made gains in reading and mathematics over the past few decades, a sizeable…

What happens when teams from 57 cities building afterschool systems gather to discuss two key system responsibilities--improving afterschool programs and using data for informed decision-making? Lots of rich discussion. This report covers a national afterschool conference held in February 2013. It details what mayors, program providers, system…

Raising academic standards and eliminating achievement gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students are America's prime national educational goals. Current federal and state policies, however, largely ignore the fact that the childhood poverty rate in the United States is 21%, the highest in the industrialized world, and that poverty…

The 2009 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" provided a comprehensive review of states' policies that impact the teaching profession. As a companion to last year's comprehensive state-by-state analysis, the 2010 edition provides each state with an individualized "Blueprint for Change," building off last year's "Yearbook"…

This study examined first-year teachers' ability to assess their students. The researcher collected lesson plans submitted by each of the Kentucky New Teacher Internship Program (K-TIP) interns in one county during 1996-97 and 1997-98. The lesson plans came from 32 elementary, 11 middle, and 7 high school K-TIP interns. The researcher copied…

This document is a statement of the basic music skills that Kentucky students should develop. This skills list does not replace any locally developed curriculum. It is intended as a guide for local school districts in Kentucky in their development of a detailed K-12 curriculum. The skills presented are considered basic to a sound education program…

The Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 (KERA) requires the implementation of school-based decision making in all Kentucky schools by July 1996. The school-based decision making process offers the opportunity for parents, teachers, and principals to use their knowledge and judgment in deciding how to best help children learn in their schools. A…

Examines attitudes of 1,150 teachers from Charlotte-Mecklinberg (North Carolina) and 1,748 Kentucky teachers working under school-based performance award programs with monetary bonuses if their schools met or exceeded student achievement goals. Findings suggest that the motivational potential of the incentives can be offset by undesirable program…

This workbook, submitted by the Kentucky Department of Education to the U.S. Department of Education, is for State Grants under Title IX, Part C, Section 9302 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (Public Law 107-110). By January 31, 2003, States must complete and submit to the Department this Consolidated State Application Accountability…

This collection of practical writing activities was designed to give classroom teachers a variety of approaches, options, and techniques for teaching the essential skills in writing. The activities are organized into units according to grade level, one series of activities following each writing objective determined to be an indicator of whether a…

This report presents data from the second year of a multiyear study designed to evaluate student performance in terms of measures related to the statewide goals for education in Kentucky's schools and then to determine the relationship between school system characteristics and the quality of student performance. Student performance was analyzed…

To help evaluate the effectiveness of the ten-year horticulture program at the Bath County (Kentucky) High School, a questionnaire was developed and sent to its 127 graduates. Conclusions were that the program has been a success and should be broadened from the present two to three years. (MF)

This document lists skills in the area of reading considered essential for pupils in Kentucky to progress to the next higher level of achievement. The skills are listed according to grade, and grades 1 through 12 are covered. The skills are described in terms of behavioral objectives. Students at the lower levels are expected to be able to perform…