Documented the birth process for new small schools that developed in a 7-year study of the Coalition Campus Schools Project in New York City. The study of new schools, part of a network of reform-oriented schools in the context of systemwide reform, finds that the five new schools created to replace a failing high school perform better in many…

Evaluated the glass ceiling hypothesis in relation to Asian American faculty using data from the 1993 National Study of Post-Secondary Faculty for 1,019 Asian American faculty members. Data limitations prevent concluding that such faculty do or do not face a glass ceiling; however, baseline findings for future research are established. (SLD)

Studied relationships among academic self-concept, academic achievement, and language of instruction (Chinese or English) for 7,802 high school students in Hong Kong. Prior self-concept had significant effects on subsequent achievement beyond the effects of prior achievement, and prior achievement had effects on subsequent self-concept as well.…

Analyzed the storytelling practices of two teachers that, unknown to them, were integral to teaching and learning in their high school classrooms. Each set of stories appealed to a particular demographic group of students. Findings extend sociocultural theories of successful student participation as an interactive accomplishment tied to larger…

Draws on experiences of mature access students (n=23) in an inner London (England) further education college. Explores the range of opportunities and constraints mature students confront in their efforts to make the transition to higher education. Focuses on the narratives of the seven students who failed to complete the access course. (BT)

Explores the value of introducing single-sex classes within co-educational schools. Draws upon perspectives of girls and boys involved in one such initiative. Concludes girls-only classes may have positive effects for girls, but curriculum-as-usual boys' classes do nothing to challenge problematic male cultures inherent in schools. (BT)

Considers methodological issues that arise when values form the main focus of empirical educational research. Includes discussion of the idea that social science, in general, and educational research, in particular, are forms of moral inquiry. Outlines a methodology of educational research, drawing from work by Imre Lakatos, Alasdair MacIntyre,…

Explores association between pupil mobility and attainment in national end of Key Stage 1 tests for 6000+ pupils in an English urban education authority. Indicates pupil mobility during the early years is associated with significantly lower levels of pupil attainment in reading, writing, and mathematics tests at age seven. (BT)

Reviews existing evidence on the relationship between class size and achievement for children in their first years of schooling. Describes a large-scale longitudinal study of these children within English local education authorities. Presents results for achievement progress in literacy and mathematics during the reception year. (BT)

Seeks to move forward the understanding of within-class groupings in actual classrooms. Identifies five core themes central to pupils' experience of groups in classrooms. Uses this as a basis to collect information on classroom groupings. Surveys teachers in 187 classrooms from Years 2 and 5 during normal class time. (BT)

Uses existing data to investigate differences in the rate that schools improved General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examination results from 1991-98. Finds two variables impacted examination improvement: (1) low concentration of social disadvantage relative to other local schools; and (2) starting from a low base level of GCSE…

Examines qualitative data from three case-study schools to illuminate barriers to responsiveness facing socially disadvantaged schools and impeding school improvement. Highlights cumulative impact of contextual influences, which interact with internal school factors, particularly that of local school hierarchies and processes of labelling that…

Examines within class ability grouping for mathematics in six classes. One primary school sample included 145 children, ages 3 to 5. Reveals considerable overlap between standardized test scores of children in high-, middle-, and low-ability groups. Finds significant, but weak correlation between mathematics ability and mathematics self-concept.…

Takes as background the shift over time in Great Britain toward models of target setting in education, based almost entirely on measurable outputs. Outlines some alternative models involving targets for inputs and processes, and use of targets that are exhortative rather than directly measurable. (BT)

States the Labour Government has given the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), the school inspection agency for England, a lead role in monitoring how schools are preventing and addressing racism. Considers the extent to which the school inspection framework provides an effective model for the promotion of race equality. (BT)