This article explores the concept of compositional effects in school effect studies, their generation and some of the difficulties that arise in their interpretation. Some basic issues are addressed using data from a New Zealand study of secondary schools, and further illustration of some of the "pitfalls" is provided from an English study of…

This study examined data from over 300 U.S. schools on their efforts to develop high quality programs of school, family, and community partnerships. Analyses show that elementary schools, schools with greater support from parents, teachers, and the community; and schools that evaluated progress reported higher quality partnership programs over…

The study explored differences in story comprehension and vocabulary learning in children in native and multicultural kindergarten classrooms when listening to a story read to them by the computer or the teacher. The results showed that children (41 native and 30 immigrant) learned new words, both from listening to their teacher and from listening…

Results from numerous school- and teacher-effectiveness studies suggest that variation between classes is more significant than variation between schools, though evidence often seems contradictory. This article considers why different studies generate different findings, identifies key study design issues, and relates these observations to…

Summarizes a study that examined 3 cohorts of pupils passing through some 30 English secondary schools, using examination results as the outcome measure and controlling for prior attainment levels. Offers a multilevel strategy for conceptualizing and modeling data on schools' performance changes over time. Although several schools improved their…

Summarizes results of a longitudinal study on the development of mathematics achievement and choice behavior of boys and girls aged 12 to 15 in (Dutch) secondary schools. Although gender differences in choosing mathematics as a final examination project do exist, they can only partially be explained by differences in math achievement. (Contains 18…

Uses hierarchical modeling techniques to investigate Australian students' science achievement, examining the proposition that gender and socioeconomic inequities result from school systems designed to produce an unequal social order. Even after adjusting for students' individual characteristics, their home backgrounds, and school context, there…