Research and scholarship into educational effectiveness research (EER) is comprehensively reviewed from the UK, The Netherlands, the US, Cyprus, Belgium, Sweden, France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and other societies, dating from the field's origins in the 1970s. Issues include its history, methodological and theoretical advances,…

The authors describe a reform effort in which characteristics derived from High Reliability Organization research were used to shape whole school reform. Longitudinal analyses of outcome data from 12 Welsh secondary schools indicated that 4 years after the effort was initiated, student outcomes at the sites were strongly positive. Additional…

This article outlines a research and development programme that focused on a group of 8 secondary schools in England. The schools in this study were considered to be facing exceptionally challenging circumstances characterised by high levels of socioeconomic disadvantage and deprivation. They were also schools considered to be seriously…

Counters 14 criticisms of school-effectiveness research (SER). Many criticisms are founded on simplistic/skewed readings of SER; there is wide diversity in SER. Many SER researchers have considered socioeconomic effects on achievement but believe schools can have influences beyond social class. Pragmatism is a worthy paradigm for studying schools.…

School-effectiveness research has made three considerable contributions: establishing a field exhibiting the characteristics of normal science, generation of research findings on numerous important topics, and combating of social/professional pessimism concerning educational-advancement prospects. School-effectiveness researchers will probably…

Examines effects of teacher behaviors and classroom organization on 2,128 pupils' progress in mathematics in UK primary schools participating in a math intervention program. Using multilevel modeling techniques, finds that teacher behaviors could explain between 60 and 70 percent of pupils' progress on numeracy tests. (Contains 35 references.)…

At the 10th International Congress for School Effectiveness and School Improvement, participants noted progress in effectiveness research regarding development of outcome measures, size effects, measures of educational processes, and variables contributing to effectiveness. School-improvement research has focused on schools' status changes,…

In the United Kingdom, school-effectiveness research has significantly influenced both policy and practice. Research demonstrates considerable methodological sophistication, with axiomatic use of multilevel modeling, cohort studies, multiple intake and outcome measures, and limited attempts to analyze instructional processes. The historic split…

Reviews paradigms of the academic communities of school-effectiveness and school-improvement researchers, practitioners, and scholars. Argues that the two models are very different and that this has hindered the improvement of educational practice. Provides examples of programs blending the two approaches and shows how school-effectiveness and…