The cochairs of the International Literacy Association's 2017 Standards provide a hands-on guide to using the updated standards for middle and high school classroom teachers. The authors discuss four key notions: Disciplinary literacy instruction enhances content area learning, culturally responsive instruction is critical in our diverse society,…

In 2016, analysts at Marzano Research identified a focused set of content for each K-12 grade level in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science called The Critical Concepts (Simms, 2016). Using a set of source standards that included the Common Core State Standards (CCSS; National Governors Association for Best Practices & Council…

Research indicates that most standards documents articulate far more content than can be taught in the time available to K-12 teachers. In response, analysts at Marzano Research sought to identify, as objectively as possible, a focused set of critical concepts for each K-12 grade level in the content areas of English language arts (ELA),…

During the past several years, middle schools and high schools have been shifting their attention to disciplinary literacy. The Common Core State Standards are explicit in requiring teachers to teach the literacy of science, literature, and history, and even states that are not part of Common Core (such as Texas) are making this shift as well.…

This 3-year qualitative study examined how 26 teachers in four U.S. secondary schools addressed the literacy demands of curriculum materials based on standards from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. It was grounded in sociocultural perspectives that encourage study of language in local contexts, including classrooms, communities,…

The Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) and the Mathematics Design Collaborative (MDC) are strategies designed to improve how teachers teach and students learn. The designs encourage teacher collaboration and creativity and offer flexible frameworks for building lessons in all disciplines. Their purpose is to engage students to read challenging…

Clear, high standards will enable us to develop an education system that ensures that high school graduates are ready for college. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been working with other organizations to develop a Common Core of Standards. The partners working with the foundation are developing tools that will show teachers what is…

A national panel urged federal policymakers to "take a more active role" in promoting adolescent reading and writing, and called for nothing short of a "literacy revolution" to keep students in school and ensure they are able to learn the complex material that college and careers will demand of them. The final report of the Carnegie Corporation of…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Time to "Learn": Comprehensive Literacy Bill Introduced in Congress; (2) "Teaching for a New…

Instructional strategies make a difference in whether students are engaged in learning and are profiting from their time in class. High schools, technology centers and middle grades schools are encouraging teachers to adopt new teaching techniques and are providing opportunities for teachers to work together to improve their instructional skills…

The Learning Record is a framework teachers can use to translate their observations of students into a disciplined, systematic, standards-based reporting process. This guide offers all the information necessary to use the Learning Record in the upper grades. The chapters are: (1) "Documenting Prior Experience"; (2) "Documenting Student Learning";…

This booklet is designed as a resource in developing a system to document indicators of post-school educational outcomes for all students, including those with disabilities. The booklet briefly reviews the National Center on Educational Outcomes' conceptual model of domains, outcomes, and indicators for individuals at the post-school level. It…

This study investigated what is known about content area instruction for linguistically and culturally diverse learners (LCDLs) in mainstream social studies, mathematics, science, and language arts classes. A review of recent literature looked at three major areas: (1) the theory and practice of standards for this group; (2) theory and practice of…

"ES Review" brings together in one publication recent Education Sector work that reflects both the reach of its policy projects and its commitment to translating the complexities of education policymaking for a wide range of audiences. Articles in this first edition of "ES Review" are: (1) Community College Confidential…