The Commission on Academic Development, which was established to examine the goals and development of the University of Victoria, was made up of a broad spectrum of people from the academic community who are appointed by the president. The commission focused on problems and issues of primary concern to the university, such as the academic goals of…

"EFF HOT (Highlights on Teaching Topics) Topics" is a publication of the EFF (Equipped for the Future) Center for Training and Technical Assistance. Each issue concentrates on a specific topic, highlighting examples of actual practice and offering strategies and tools for using EFF in the classroom. In this issue, "HOT Topics" focuses on the EFF…

Idealistic federal legislation that invokes excellence and fairness, such as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, may actually leave many rural communities behind as rural schools seeking to meet the federal mandates collide with state budget deficits of historical proportion. Drawing on the literature, public opinion polls, and the…

Noting that young children need early childhood settings supporting the development of the full range of capacities that will serve as a foundation for future school learning, and that adults have an opportunity and an obligation to assist children in becoming active participants in the learning process, this document details foundations to…

A group of dedicated teachers in Gilmer County High School, Glenville, West Virginia (WV), worked with school administrators to make far-reaching changes to prepare all students for further study and the workplace. With their experiences from High Schools That Work workshops and help from a WV Department of Education representative, educators…

This report reviews education programs and practices that have improved Native American student achievement in English language arts and mathematics. In Navajo tribal schools, teaching Indigenous language and literacy first, followed by teaching English and promoting bilingualism, helped students perform well on tests of vocabulary, comprehension,…

This book provides a guide for English language arts teachers in grades 6-12, demonstrating how students learn and how beliefs inform behavior. It promotes a student-centered and inquiry-based teaching philosophy. Seven chapters focus on: (1) "Education Begins with Philosophy" (e.g., belief shapes perception, curriculum in traditional and…

This monograph describes and analyzes the New Haven Unified School District's teacher quality system, noting the role the personnel office plays in that system. While this urban California district remains a low-wealth district and serves a diverse student population, it has a reputation for excellent schools. One of the factors contributing to…

In this report on California's teaching force, the authors make two main points: (1) The state needs but does not yet have a system of teacher development that ensures that all who enter the classroom have the knowledge and skills they need to get their students to reach the academic standards the state has set; and (2) The existing distribution…

This report describes the findings of 10 focus group meetings that discussed issues related to the performance of students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) on Minnesota's Basic Standards Exams. Ten groups were formed, with one group of parents and one of students representing each of the following language communities: Cambodian, Hmong, Lao,…

A survey of 300 secondary school English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teachers in Turkey investigated their views on ESL teaching and curriculum, language attitudes, language learning, classroom practices, role perceptions, and views of language teaching as a profession. Demographic data show most were trained in English language teaching in Turkish…

POLYTECH High School in Woodside, Delaware, has gone from being among the worst schools in the High Schools That Work (HSTW) network to among the best. Polytech, which is now a full-time technical high school, has improved its programs and outcomes by implementing a series of organizational, curriculum, teaching, guidance, and leadership changes,…

This document presents the complete findings, full wordings, complete responses, and sample sizes from a series of surveys conduced from 1998 through 2002. The surveys covered a variety of topics about public education, including student achievement, academic standards, standardized testing, accountability, curriculum, safety and discipline,…

This report discusses outcomes of a study designed to update information on jurisdictional requirements for the conventional licensure of special educators and to extend inquiry into areas of special education licensure. Interviews were conducted and responses were received from 51 directors of licensure in state departments of education and the…

This document, which was jointly developed by representatives from a broad cross-section of Ohio's health care industries and educators representing Ohio's schools and colleges, is intended as a foundation for developing an integrated delivery system to prepare students for careers in health care. The document's introductory section presents…