In this era of high-stakes accountability, it is important to take steps to increase student achievement and to reduce the achievement gap between rich and poor students. The education profession now recognizes that teacher quality is the most important school-related factor affecting student achievement. Thus, it is necessary to take steps to…

Analyzes Georgia high-stakes testing case involving administrative law judge's recommendation (subsequently approved) that fifth-grade science teacher's teaching certificate be suspended for giving his students pretest copies of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. Suggests No Child Left Behind Act will spawn similar litigation in the future. (PKP)

Discusses 12 questionable assumptions about schooling. Two examples: The aim of schooling is to get all students to the same place at about the same time. The best way to identify schools that work well is to examine their students' test scores. Suggests a way to think about these assumptions in relation to five dimensions of school reform.…

Discusses origins and analyzes shortcomings of Manitoba education reform agenda. Offers suggests for improving success of province's reform efforts. (PKP)

Challenges theory that high-stakes testing and accountability will improve student performance. Cites experience in New York and Boston where student test failure and dropouts have increased. Discusses success of Danish education reform efforts. (PKP)

Drawing on work of contemporary biological anthropologists and other scientists, argues that biologically based racial differences are not scientifically valid, but are instead socially constructed categories. Draws implications for teachers, students, and society. Provides suggestions and resources for teachers and students to learn more about…

Analyzes cost and benefits of No Child Left Behind Act based on projected costs for 10 states. Finds that state and federal funding falls far short of that required to make No Child Left Behind a reality. (Contains 43 references.) (PKP)

Presents research on both sides of policy debate over whether traditional teacher preparation positively affects student achievement. Also presents mixed research findings linking teacher certification with teacher quality. (Contains 39 references.) (PKP)

Drawing on case studies of six urban and suburban secondary schools in Ontario, Canada, examines characteristics and role of school leaders in supporting and sustaining educational reform. Discusses three implications for developing sustainable leadership. For example, education systems should see leadership as a vertical system that extends for…

Discusses four complementary interventions required for principals to improve classroom visits: Provide clear, grade-specific curriculum proficiency targets; develop results-oriented, teacher team-planned curriculum units; adopt Japanese lesson study approach to teaching; and use data to improve teaching and learning. (PKP)

Discusses research by Marsha Buly and Sheila Valencia in the Fall 2002 issue of "Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis" on the success of Washington State's legislation mandating phonics-based reading instruction. Discusses contribution of music education to Finnish students' high scores in the Program of International Student Assessment…

Describes what the states of Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Illinois are doing to comply with No Child Left Behind Act requirement for reporting adequate yearly progress for students in several subgroups, including students with disabilities, low-income students, ethnic and racial minorities, and English learners. (PKP)

Principal describes efforts to divide a large urban high school into five small schools. Finds considerable gap between the theory and practice of school redesign. Reflects on the dilemmas and collisions between theory and practice encountered when dealing with the students, the faculty, the parents, the central office, and the school committee.…

Claims that behavior of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in the production and dissemination of its National Reading Panel (NRP) report is scandalous. Provides several reasons for this assertion. (Conains 11 references.) (PKP)

Argues that learning should begin with a student's imagination rather than starting with what he or she already knows. Does not suggest abandoning a student's prior knowledge, however. (PKP)