More than 300 tribal representatives and educators from across New Mexico met at Ohkay Owingeh on December 19, 2005, to discuss ways to improve education for American Indian students in New Mexico. The Summit was a collaborative effort by New Mexico's Office of Indian Affairs, Public Education Department, Higher Education Department, and tribal…

This guide is intended to increase access for individuals with disabilities to local, state (New York), and national testing programs, as well as facilitate the consistent provision of modifications necessary to allow these individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities. Ten modules cover the following topics: (1) federal and state…

Educational Testing Service (ETS) research highlights more similarities than variations in gender differences among student racial/groups, though variations exist in how the differences are manifested. This digest presents highlights from Richard Coley's findings in "Differences in the Gender Gap: Comparisons across Racial/Ethnic Groups in…

This report addresses the extent to which students in Connecticut are receiving world language education that meets the Board's expectations. Data are presented on key world language opportunity-to-learn indicators, such as the following: staffing (e.g., with dramatic increases in enrollments in world languages at all levels, the demand for…

In 1992 the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation (AAUW) Educational Foundation published "How Schools Shortchange Girls," a landmark report providing overwhelming evidence that girls were often ignored in the classroom and neglected in the curriculum. This report brought gender equity to the forefront of…

Uses a survey of educational attainment in urban Taiwan to explore the effects of ability grouping. Argues that because of the nature of educational institutionalization in Taiwan (universal basic education, a national curriculum, entrance examinations governing access to postcompulsory schooling) tracking reduces rather than accentuates the…

Provides a sequence of skills development from grades 9 through 12 for students who are taking advanced-level courses. The skills are sequenced through a program that includes ninth grade government and geography, tenth grade world history, and eleventh and twelfth grade Advanced Placement history courses. (GG)

Examines a solubility laboratory experiment using silver acetate and spectrophotometers for an Advanced Placement chemistry course. Covers experimental procedure, analysis of saturated solutions, and a discussion of chemistry involved. Includes an absorbance curve for silver ions and solution preparation suggestions. (ML)

A high school English teacher describes personal experiences in "untracking" instruction and offers insights into techniques and considerations for making untracked instruction effective. Issues addressed include attendance and missed work, deadlines, classroom communication, assignments, student choice in reading materials, and student…

A college faculty member who has graded Advanced Placement exam essays on U.S. government and politics, taken mostly by high school juniors and seniors, suggests that high school teachers and college faculty who assess the essays are not the best qualified persons to do so and that despite efforts to ensure consistency, the resulting scores are…

A faculty consultant to the Educational Testing Service for advanced placement (AP) test reading in U.S. government and politics responds to an article criticizing essay evaluation methods and criteria, finding in it a fundamental misunderstanding of the AP reading process and explaining why the essays are subject to less scrutiny for style,…

The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program was offered in 10 high schools and 6 middle schools during the 2005-2006 school year. AVID began in the Austin Independent School District (AISD) in 1999 as a way of helping more students become eligible for college. Students who were considered academically "average," based on…

This monograph examines educational programs for students who are gifted and talented in the visual arts, through a review of the literature on gifted/talented education and art education and examination of programming opportunities. Relevant educational history from 1850 to the present is reviewed. The research review encompasses four national…

This evaluation report examines high school programs for high ability students in Orange County, Florida. The evaluation study used interviews, surveys, and a review of records. It was found that: (1) all high schools have developed a course of study for high ability students, including Advanced Placement, honors, and four magnet programs; (2) all…

In a society characterized by change, people are faced with many opportunities to acquire practical knowledge outside the traditional environment of academic institutions using the same basic evaluation criteria and guarantee the validity and reliability of assessment. A prior learning assessment (PLA) program has the following economic benefits:…