The chapters of this theme issue describe 11 book-based literacy projects conducted in a variety of countries. In these programs, a "flood" of high-interest books is placed in classrooms, and teachers are shown how to use them to improve children's literacy levels and their attitudes toward literacy. Articles make the case for extending these…

The six chapters of this theme issue describe and discuss many complex factors affecting teacher education throughout the world. Following an overview, two chapters focus on external factors, two relate to design decisions in teacher education institutions, and one contains case studies to examine program designs in different countries. (SLD)

Contributors to this special issue present information that has accrued within specific subfields of self-regulated learning. Essays discuss key issues of self-regulated learning, providing suggestions on how the modeling, scaffolding, and fading of self-regulatory skills can be done. (SLD)

The eight chapters of this theme issue describe studies of learning environments conducted in a variety of conceptual and methodological perspectives by researchers in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. Studies reflect perspectives on conceptualizations of learning environments that range from objectivist to more…

The seven chapters of this theme issue are concerned with how individuals learn and reason in the subject matter domain of history. In this general context, there is a more specific focus on historical explanation and understanding. These chapters explore what should be taught in history and how it should be taught. (SLD)

Eleven papers on developments in middle school education (grades seven through nine) in England, West Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium are presented. Topics include comprehensive education for 11 to 16 year olds, mathematics, political issues, accessibility, curricula, school evaluation, and the view of the United States. (TJH)

Topics related to the identification and use of effectiveness indicators in the economic analysis of education are discussed. These topics include the relation between economic concepts and educational production; the economic concept of utility; and the nature and use of input, process, output, and outcome indicators. (TJH)

Six papers on applications of item response theory are presented. Applications involved include item bias, criterion-referenced measurement problems, test score equating, computerized ability testing, information processing approaches, unidimensional binary responses, multidimensional and polychotomous responses, and estimation and goodness of…

Fourteen essays on the National Assessment of Educational Progress offer a broad, systematic examination of technical and policy issues in national-level assessments. Topics include reading and mathematics trends, quality control, national achievement trends, state-level implementation and reporting, and federal review panel responses. (TJH)

These six chapters examine Thailand's efforts in the 1980s to improve the quality of primary (elementary) education. Thailand's experience in implementing improvement strategies within cost constraints may offer insights to other developing nations. Sample surveys, cost analyses, and case studies are the basis of research reported. (SLD)

The seven chapters of this theme issue present a state-of-the-art review of research studies into the effectiveness of economic and labor market results of continuing education. Substantive results and research methodology are examined in these examples of effectiveness research. Conceptual and methodological diversity characterize these studies.…

Eight papers discuss the public choice model of education in an international context and the implications of choice for parental involvement in schools. Perspectives/dilemmas in the United States, Great Britain, Japan, and Israel are considered. Conflicting views of schools as service organizations and schools as commonwealth organizations are…

Eight papers discuss issues comparing public and private education. New studies are included to emphasize the international dimensions of the public school versus private school debate, addressing national policies toward private education; research evidence comparing the effectiveness of public and private schools; and reasons for these…

Ten articles on the use of multilevel data in educational research are presented. Topics include model specification and building, analytical procedures, aggregation bias, least squares statistics, hierarchical linear models, significance testing, and testing multilevel product-process networks. (TJH)

Eight articles on international educational indicators (IEIs) are presented. Topics include functions and limitations of IEIs; science and math indicators and national welfare; higher education indicators; cost and resource indicators; and national perspectives from the United States, Australia, France, and England and Wales. (TJH)