Leaders in the business community often talk about the "skills gap," the gap between the skills needed for good jobs in the economy and the skills that prospective employees possess. Though there is debate as to whether or not such a gap actually exists, the idea of the "skills gap" can be a helpful way to frame instances where…

Since its inception, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) blue print has attracted interest from more than 40 states in the United States. The overall objective of these proposed changes is to align K-12 science education with current trends in technology and career needs. However, the assessment of teacher preparedness and classroom…

NIET [National Institute for Excellence in Teaching] continually evaluates the impact of TAP: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement on raising student achievement, improving instruction and increasing the ability of high-need schools to recruit, retain and support effective teachers. In addition to national results in student achievement…

The challenge of improving the performance of public schools has been given attention from a variety of advocacy groups, researchers, government agencies, education organizations and schools. Since the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 2002, titled No Child Left Behind, the stakes for public schools are higher.…

Non-English speakers are currently the fastest growing population group in Iowa schools. Immigrant and refugee families are choosing in record numbers to make Iowa their home. Across the state, newcomers are added daily to classroom rosters, and teachers are challenged to meet the unique social, emotional, and educational needs of students. The…

A study was conducted to determine the status of local secondary vocational education advisory councils in Iowa. Phase 1 of the study surveyed 709 secondary vocational education programs to identify programs utilizing local advisory councils, composition of these councils, and names of leading council members. Phase 2 collected data from 218…

This document is a resource for distance education research in Iowa, including information on developing, implementing, and administering distance education systems. This second edition contains the original 16 research papers published previously, as well as 8 additional, more recent research studies. The first section describes distance…

Factors such as the "internal/external" status of the chief negotiator and expressed attitudes regarding the perceived benefits of collective negotiations were found to be related to the stage of bargaining at which a settlement was reached, as well as the number of hours spent in negotiation. (Author)

Examines the relationship between collective bargaining and educational reform efforts and explores educators' differing viewpoints, based on a survey of 135 educational professionals from 55 schools sampled in 5 states. Principals viewed bargaining as obstructing reform; union representatives saw bargaining as facilitating reform. Teachers…

Responses from 102 of 140 Iowa secondary agriculture teachers revealed attitudes toward the interactive communications network (ICN), a two-way fiber optic telecommunications system. Teachers were concerned about such obstacles as scheduling ICN use and managing laboratory and supervised agricultural experience activities. They were undecided…

This publication highlights the opportunities to celebrate statewide diversity experienced by the 1998-99 Iowa Teacher of the Year, an African-American woman. Section 1 highlights her visits to 16 colleges around Iowa. Section 2 discusses her visits to 400 classrooms in 93 K-12 schools in 50 districts. Section 3 discusses the conferences and…

A 1980 teacher satisfaction study involving 1,295 secondary teachers in 23 Iowa high schools of 1,000 or more reveals that: higher level teacher needs are unfulfilled; these needs are not gender related; teachers aged 25 to 34 years are least happy; and those teaching higher level ability students are most satisfied. (NEC)

This paper makes a case for considering science as one of the humanities by describing the use of the Chautauqua Model in the state of Iowa to affect teacher attitude and behavior. The model includes a two-week experience with science, technology, and society teaching and learning (STS); a two-and-one-half day short course; planning and usage of a…

In a study designed to investigate the influence of vocational and academic skill scores of retarded individuals on predictions for their work success, the responses of 86 work-study teachers in Iowa indicated that knowledge of IQ and academic achievement may cause teachers to underestimate or overlook more relevant vocational skill information.…

Describes a study conducted (1) to determine the perceptions of vocational agriculture teachers and their administrators toward selected summer program activities, and (2) to determine if differences exist between vocational agriculture teachers and superintendents in their perceptions of the importance of selected summer program activities. (CT)