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2013

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Positive Behavior Intervention And Support On The Playground, Teri M. Miller Dec 2013

Positive Behavior Intervention And Support On The Playground, Teri M. Miller

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research project was to implement the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model on the playground environment and determine the effects on student behavior observed during recess. The study was conducted at an elementary school with first grade teachers and students. Data collection methods included surveys, student goal sheets, and a web-based application, School-Wide Information System (SWIS), used to document referrals on playground behavior. Results from the eight-week study yielded positive results, showing a dramatic decrease of problematic behaviors on the playground. Recommendations based on the results of the investigation include creating Active Recess (AR) …

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The Effects Of Using Ipads To Increase Basic Math Fact Automaticity, Nicholas P. Sunderman, Kyle S. Shaughnessy Dec 2013

The Effects Of Using Ipads To Increase Basic Math Fact Automaticity, Nicholas P. Sunderman, Kyle S. Shaughnessy

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Our investigation was on the effects of using iPads to increase basic fact automaticity. We wanted to explore what strategy worked best to increase fact fluency: flashcards and paper/pencil practice or iPad practice. The project took place in one fourth-grade classroom and one fifth-grade classroom. The fourth-grade classroom had twenty-one students. The fifth-grade classroom had twenty-two students. We collected data with pretest and posttest instruments. We also collected data through weekly observations. Students using the iPads were also monitored using the Moby Max fact fluency program. The results indicated that daily flashcard and paper/pencil practice provided a higher rate of …

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Classroom Management Strategies: The Impact On Student Achievement, Hope Sowell Dec 2013

Classroom Management Strategies: The Impact On Student Achievement, Hope Sowell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal comparative study was to test the theoretical Classroom Management Teacher Behavior Continuum of Wolfgang and Glickman (1980) that suggests that interventionist, noninterventionist, and interactionalist classrooms may differ in student outcomes. This study explored whether student outcomes in statewide standardized tests reading, English language arts, and math differ by interventionist, noninterventionist, or interactionalist teacher instruction management (IM) and behavior management (BM) styles. Survey data from eighty-three 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers regarding instructional and behavioral classroom management beliefs were contrasted in the percentage students passing standardized tests of reading, ELA, and math using MANOVA at …

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Instructor Interaction As It Relates To Facilitation Of Spiritual Development Within An Evangelical Institution: A Case Study, Joseph Butler Dec 2013

Instructor Interaction As It Relates To Facilitation Of Spiritual Development Within An Evangelical Institution: A Case Study, Joseph Butler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand the impact of instructor interaction on the facilitation of spiritual development in an online environment for undergraduate non-religion majors attending a distinctively evangelical university. The qualitative case study shadows and evaluates three sections of a required introductory religion course. Over the period of one academic term, the following online interactions were observed in order to gauge potential facilitation of spiritual development: announcements, emails, forums, assignment feedback, and course content. An interview was conducted with the instructor following the course to understand how they engaged the course and their perspective in …

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Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Literacy Professional Learning: An Amalgamation Of Adolescent Literacy, Mathematics Teaching, And Adult Learning, Janet L. Larson Dec 2013

Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Literacy Professional Learning: An Amalgamation Of Adolescent Literacy, Mathematics Teaching, And Adult Learning, Janet L. Larson

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study uses practitioner research to examine secondary mathematics teachers’ learning of literacy integration practices in the context of a district-wide literacy professional development series. The author, a secondary mathematics curriculum and instruction facilitator in a large, Midwestern suburban district, engaged in a two-year partnership with seventeen Mathematics Teacher Facilitators (MTFs) who taught literacy practices to their colleagues via a train-the-trainer model. This study provides an explicit rendering of professional development practices and ongoing, job-embedded learning vignettes of six MTF’s experiences in (a) teaching literacy practices to their colleagues and (b) how they learned and enacted these practices in their …

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Using Common Formative Assessments To Guide Fluency Instruction, Kelly Adrian, Abbigail Volek, Christa Ranweiler Dec 2013

Using Common Formative Assessments To Guide Fluency Instruction, Kelly Adrian, Abbigail Volek, Christa Ranweiler

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

In the Spring of 2013, first-grade literacy data were reviewed and we concluded that changes needed to occur with teacher instructional methods to ensure growth in student reading fluency. We collaborated to find what effect common formative assessments would have on teachers’ abilities to help students meet reading fluency benchmarks. Data were collected on 52 first-grade students within three classroom settings. Throughout this process, teachers monitored student progress toward proficiency in reading fluency, in particular rate, through the use of common formative assessments, teacher observation notes and teacher collaboration. After the data collection period, results showed that the use of …

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Improving Kindergarten Students’ Knowledge By Enhancing Engagement In Literacy Centers, Magdalene B. Pearson Dec 2013

Improving Kindergarten Students’ Knowledge By Enhancing Engagement In Literacy Centers, Magdalene B. Pearson

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The action research was conducted in a kindergarten classroom with 18 participating students, in a Northern Midwest elementary school. Baseline data was collected by assessments in the areas of letter identification, onset sounds, rhyming, and concepts of print. Literacy centers were set up for students using differentiated activities in these areas. Conferencing with students and formative assessments were used for monitoring student progress and engagement in the literacy centers of Read to Self, Word Works, Writing Center and Listening Center. The students were assessed again at the end of the research period. The results of this study showed increased learning …

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The Effects Of A Rubric Used As A Formative Peer/Self Evaluation Tool, Nicole E. Vaith Dec 2013

The Effects Of A Rubric Used As A Formative Peer/Self Evaluation Tool, Nicole E. Vaith

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The action research study was conducted in a public high school in an upper secondary classroom setting; three classes were included, with 91 students from a variety of backgrounds. This investigation was intended to examine how the rubric used as a formative peer-evaluation tool and self-evaluation tool affect student confidence in understanding assignment expectations and overall objective achievement. Baseline data was collected, regarding students’ initial understanding of the assignment expectations. Peer-evaluation and self-evaluation data was collected. After the peer and self-evaluation data was collected, students participated in a post-survey. Both data regarding understanding of assignment expectations, and overall objective achievement, …

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An Integrated Multidisciplinary Nanoscience Concentration Certificate Program For Stem Education, Karen S. Martirosyan, Mikhail M. Bouniaev, Malik Rakhmanov, Ahmed Touhami, Nazmul Islam, Davood Askari, Tarek Trad, Dmitri Litvinov, Sergey E. Lyshevski Dec 2013

An Integrated Multidisciplinary Nanoscience Concentration Certificate Program For Stem Education, Karen S. Martirosyan, Mikhail M. Bouniaev, Malik Rakhmanov, Ahmed Touhami, Nazmul Islam, Davood Askari, Tarek Trad, Dmitri Litvinov, Sergey E. Lyshevski

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Integration of nanoscience and nanotechnology curricula into the College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology (CSMT) at the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) is reported. The rationale for the established multidisciplinary Nanoscience Concentration Certificate Program (NCCP) is to: (i) develop nanotechnology-relevant courses within a comprehensive Science, Engineering and Technology curriculum, and, to offer students an opportunity to graduate with a certificate in nanoscience and nanotechnology; (ii) to contribute to students' success in achieving student outcomes across all college's majors, and, improve the breath, depth and quality of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates' education; (iii) through NCCP, recruit certificate- …

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Improving Assessment Scores Through Daily 5 Math, Brandy Geloff Dec 2013

Improving Assessment Scores Through Daily 5 Math, Brandy Geloff

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The intent of the research was to determine how incorporating Daily 5 Math into daily instruction would improve standards based assessment scores. The research study took place in a first grade classroom located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The four data sources of data collection used in this research included district standard based assessments, a student survey, teacher observations, and common formative assessments. The data showed an overall increase in students’ assessment scores from trigger scores given at the beginning of the year to baseline scores, four weeks later. Students were very proud of their accomplishments over such a short period …

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The Effect Of Title 1 First Grade Math Intervention, Amanda J. Jensen Dec 2013

The Effect Of Title 1 First Grade Math Intervention, Amanda J. Jensen

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This action research study investigated the effectiveness of two Title 1 math groups in a Title 1 neighborhood school. Each Title 1 group was composed of four first graders who were flagged as needing number identification intervention support by using Aims web, an online assessment tool. The action research examined the growth of the students’ number identification 0-20 over a 3 week intervention period. Daily formative assessment was used to guide instruction, students were part of the goal setting and tracking process, and students were progress monitored weekly using Aims web. After the 3 week intervention, the number identification Aims …

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The Tools Of Engagement: Iclicker Use In The Classroom, Christina B. Gunther Dec 2013

The Tools Of Engagement: Iclicker Use In The Classroom, Christina B. Gunther

Christina B. Gunther

No abstract provided.

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Identifying Formative Assessment In Classroom Instruction: Creating An Instrument To Observe Use Of Formative Assessment In Practice, Steven G. Oswalt Dec 2013

Identifying Formative Assessment In Classroom Instruction: Creating An Instrument To Observe Use Of Formative Assessment In Practice, Steven G. Oswalt

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Is formative assessment observable in practice? Substantial claims have been made regarding the influence of formative assessment on student learning. However, if researchers cannot be confident whether and to what degree formative assessment is present in instruction, then how can they make claims with confidence regarding the efficacy of formative assessment? If it is uncertain whether and to what degree formative assessment is being used in practice, then any claims regarding its influence are difficult to support. This study aims to provide a vehicle through which researchers can make stronger, more substantiated reports about the presence and impact of formative …

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Engagement Of Advanced Learners Through Differentiation Of Content, Kristi Meyer, Dayna Zins Dec 2013

Engagement Of Advanced Learners Through Differentiation Of Content, Kristi Meyer, Dayna Zins

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The action research study was conducted in third and seventh grade classrooms. The target group consisted of ten students of different genders and ethnic backgrounds. This study was focused on the engagement of advanced students through differentiating of content using various reading levels. For the purpose of this study, advanced students were students who were comfortable with classroom “norm” but needed to be challenged. Students were taught two lessons, one using the same level of text for each student and one using varied levels of text. Student engagement was observed by educators during the lessons. Groups were assessed using the …

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The Effects Of Using Math Talks To Improve Instruction In A Kindergarten Classroom, Julie Frank Dec 2013

The Effects Of Using Math Talks To Improve Instruction In A Kindergarten Classroom, Julie Frank

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The action research study was conducted in four kindergarten classrooms, involving seventy-seven students and four classroom teachers. This investigation was intended to examine the effects of using math talks to improve the quality of math instruction. In order to implement math talks the teachers participated in fifteen hours of math talks coursework. Teachers were surveyed to gather baseline data to rate current math instruction experience. Teachers also completed weekly reflection surveys and were asked to communicate thoughts in relation to math instruction. Ten random students were surveyed to determine response to math. Four math talks lessons were video recorded and …

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Improving Homework Completion By Improving Class Website, Marcy Kickhafer Dec 2013

Improving Homework Completion By Improving Class Website, Marcy Kickhafer

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The investigation was intended to find the effect of improving a class website would have on improving homework completion in algebra 2 classes. The research was conducted in two algebra 2 classes at the secondary level. There were sixty-nine students ranging from grades ten through twelve involved in the study. The majority were from white middle and upper class families. Thirty-eight of the participants were students who I had in a previous mathematics course. The data collection instruments used were student surveys, teacher grade books, homework checklists, and a website tracking service. The data showed a positive effect on student …

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Using The Guided Math Framework To Provide Differentiated Instruction, Sarah C. Donovan Dec 2013

Using The Guided Math Framework To Provide Differentiated Instruction, Sarah C. Donovan

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The action research conducted in this north suburban public elementary school included twenty-one mathematics student participants in my homeroom, and a cohort of fourteen participants who have been my students as third and fourth graders. I examined teaching strategies that are instrumental in providing quality education for all learners, specifically differentiated instruction through Guided Math. This framework of instruction, designed by Laney Sammons, takes into consideration daily data collection about each student’s ability, learning style and learner profile. These considerations allow teachers to fine tune instruction for struggling students and higher achieving students. In this study, I compared diagnostic assessment …

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Closing The Reading Fluency Gap In Six Minutes, Amy Hanzal Dec 2013

Closing The Reading Fluency Gap In Six Minutes, Amy Hanzal

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research project was to determine the effects of the implementation of the intervention, The Six Minute Solution, on student oral reading fluency scores. The research study took place in two small reading groups at Rita Murphy Elementary school in Bismarck, ND. One group consisted of three third grade students and one fourth grade students. The second group was made up of three fourth grade students. A total of four data sources were used in the collection of data. These data sources included a district required assessment; AIMSweb benchmark and progress monitoring, The Six Minute Solution …

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Effects Of In-Class Formative Assessments And Student Contracts On Homework Completion And Summative Assessments, Brian Robertson Dec 2013

Effects Of In-Class Formative Assessments And Student Contracts On Homework Completion And Summative Assessments, Brian Robertson

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This study was designed to see the effects of formal formative in-class assessments and student contracts on homework completion and summative assessments. The study took place in a small rural high school in Northeast Minnesota and the participants consisted of three sections of intermediate algebra classes of students from eighth grade through twelfth grade. All three sections used the formative assessments, while one of the sections used student contracts in addition. Data collection included three different surveys taken at different times throughout the study, teacher observations of the study, and results of homework completion and summative assessments. The results of …

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Impact Of Leveled Reading Books On The Fluency And Comprehension Levels Of First Grade Students, Melissa Seals Dec 2013

Impact Of Leveled Reading Books On The Fluency And Comprehension Levels Of First Grade Students, Melissa Seals

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this nonequivalent, control group, pretest-posttest design study was to evaluate the effectiveness of leveled book programs on first-grade students' oral reading fluency rates and comprehension levels. This study was conducted over a 10-week time span with four first-grade classes. All of the students in each class were given a pretest to determine their current reading level, and then the classes were randomly placed into the treatment group, which used leveled books during independent reading time, or the controlled group, which used trade books selected by the students during independent reading time. Two individually administered assessments, Developmental Reading …

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First Grade Teacher Perceptions Of A Character Education Program, Gina Skinner Dec 2013

First Grade Teacher Perceptions Of A Character Education Program, Gina Skinner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to describe perceptions of first grade teachers at a north Georgia elementary school regarding a character education program. Although the debate continues as to who should instill our children with values, little documentation exists concerning how educators perceive their role as instructors of character. Many character education programs exist, and many schools have adopted their use. However, school systems are struggling with budget issues, and when deciding where funding may be cut, non-academic programs such as character education are often the first areas terminated. Yet, teachers appear to have little voice in …

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Mathematics Interventions: A Correlational Study Of The Relationship Between Level Of Implementation Of The Accelerated Math Program And Student Achievement, Deborah Walker Driesel Dec 2013

Mathematics Interventions: A Correlational Study Of The Relationship Between Level Of Implementation Of The Accelerated Math Program And Student Achievement, Deborah Walker Driesel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Current legislation, such as No Child Left Behind (2001) or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004), has increased accountability for schools for the education of all students. These laws require schools to provide interventions for struggling learners, as part of the Response to Intervention process (IDEA, 2004). Accelerated Math (AM), published by Renaissance Learning, is a scientifically based program designed to supplement quality instruction as part of the RtI process. This correlational study examined ex post facto data using pre and posttest scores on the STAR Math Test in relation to amount of classroom time dedicated to AM instruction …

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The Effects Of Self-Explanation And Reading Questions And Answers On Learning Computer Programming Language, Nancy Lee Dec 2013

The Effects Of Self-Explanation And Reading Questions And Answers On Learning Computer Programming Language, Nancy Lee

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The current study explored the differential effects of two learning strategies, self-explanation and reading questions and answers, on students' test performance in the computer programming language JavaScript. Students' perceptions toward the two strategies as to their effectiveness in learning JavaScript was also explored by examining students' preferred strategy and the reasons for their choice. An online interactive tutorial instruction that implemented worked-examples and multimedia learning principles was developed for this study. A total of 147 high school students (ages ranging from 14 to 17) who were taking a Computer Introduction course participated in this study. The course was offered in …

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Introduction To Creativity: A Lecture And Curriculum Framework For Students Who Identify Themselves As Creative, Miriam Kelley Dec 2013

Introduction To Creativity: A Lecture And Curriculum Framework For Students Who Identify Themselves As Creative, Miriam Kelley

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project focuses on the creative person, process, product and press- the 4Ps of creativity as articulated by Rhodes (1961). A curricular framework was developed with an emphasis on enhancing the abilities of those who already identify themselves as creative, specifically undergraduate Freshmen and Sophomores looking to study various fields of Design at the university level. The objective of the framework is to not only identify the innate processes that may have led these students to identify themselves as creative- thereby choosing their major- but also to allow them to recognize, improve and be deliberate in those processes, to enhance …

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Foreign Language Learners' Use And Perception Of Online Dictionaries: A Survey Study, Li Jin, Elizabeth Deifell Nov 2013

Foreign Language Learners' Use And Perception Of Online Dictionaries: A Survey Study, Li Jin, Elizabeth Deifell

Li Jin

The importance of dictionaries in language learning is undisputable. The emergence of online dictionaries has noticeably influenced the way students learn a foreign language (FL). This study examines FL learners’ use and perception of bilingual online dictionaries through an analysis of over 250 responses to a web-based survey from learners enrolled in postsecondary language courses in the U.S. The most popular online dictionaries among eight languages are presented along with self-reported data regarding look-up behaviors while reading, writing, listening and speaking the target language. The results suggest that online dictionaries are most often consulted when learners are creating and/or deciphering …

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Implications Of Implementing A Hybrid Learning Approach At The University Of Guyana, Kerwin A. Livingstone Nov 2013

Implications Of Implementing A Hybrid Learning Approach At The University Of Guyana, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

Online learning and teaching is pervading higher education (HE) and many Universities are faced with the challenge of incorporating technology in education to meet the needs of students. The objective of this paper is to examine the implications of introducing a hybrid learning approach at the University of Guyana. A rationale has been established as to why this need is so germane. Literature has been reviewed and discussed, concerning face to face (F2F), online and blended instruction and the pertinence of these in current HE pedagogies. Special emphasis is paid to the transformative potential of blended learning to confront HE …

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Developing Deep Understanding About Language In Undergraduate Pre-Service Teacher Programs Through The Application Of Knowledge, Lisl Fenwick, Sally Humphrey, Marie Quinn, Michele Endicott Nov 2013

Developing Deep Understanding About Language In Undergraduate Pre-Service Teacher Programs Through The Application Of Knowledge, Lisl Fenwick, Sally Humphrey, Marie Quinn, Michele Endicott

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The development of deep understanding of theoretical knowledge is an essential element of successful tertiary-programs that prepare individuals to enter professions. This study investigates the extent to which an emphasis on the application of knowledge within curriculum design, teaching strategies and assessment methods developed deep knowledge about language within the first year of a tertiary-based teacher education program in Australia. Concepts of application from literature on tertiary-based learning informed the design of curriculum, teaching strategies and assessment within a unit on linguistics for pre-service teachers. Questionnaires, provided to students at the end of the unit, and analysis of a final …

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Getting To Excellence: What Every Educator Should Know About Consequences Of Beliefs, Attitudes, And Paradigms For The Reconstruction Of An Academically Unacceptable Middle School, James A. Johnson, Jay Cummings, Margaret Stroud, Gatsy Moye' -Lavergne, Wilbert J. Andrews Jr. Nov 2013

Getting To Excellence: What Every Educator Should Know About Consequences Of Beliefs, Attitudes, And Paradigms For The Reconstruction Of An Academically Unacceptable Middle School, James A. Johnson, Jay Cummings, Margaret Stroud, Gatsy Moye' -Lavergne, Wilbert J. Andrews Jr.

The Bridge: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Legal & Social Policy

In this chapter a discussion of a salient dimension of the external environment in which today’s educators find themselves practicing – the policy context - is presented. Critical elements of this discussion include a truncated history of the encroachment on local control of the schools and the ensuing standardized-tests-based accountability and standardized testing movement. We also pay some attention to growing efforts to push back against these movements. We conclude this chapter with perspectives of a set of scholarly informants on quality, equity, and adequacy. Our effort in this chapter is to trace the political distance traveled from education defined …

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Urban Education Reform- Case Study: North Forest Independent School District, Jay K. Aiyer, Michael O. Adams, Subria Lapps Nov 2013

Urban Education Reform- Case Study: North Forest Independent School District, Jay K. Aiyer, Michael O. Adams, Subria Lapps

The Bridge: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Legal & Social Policy

Education reformers and advocates have conducted extensive studies and produced significant research around various models of school turnaround and reform. As a case study for policy in relation to models for school district turnaround, we will explore Houston’s North Forest Independent School District (NFISD). The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, as a study of policy we will retroactively explore the key factors that led to the proposed closure of NFISD. Second, using existing strategies of school turnaround, we will explore potential models of reform that may be applied to NFISD. Third, we will discuss biases and recommendations concerning …

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How (And Why) Nclb Failed To Close The Achievement Gap:Evidence From North Carolina, 1998-2004, Roslyn Mickelson, Jason Giersch, Elizabeth Stearns, Stephanie Moller Nov 2013

How (And Why) Nclb Failed To Close The Achievement Gap:Evidence From North Carolina, 1998-2004, Roslyn Mickelson, Jason Giersch, Elizabeth Stearns, Stephanie Moller

The Bridge: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Legal & Social Policy

Recent state and national policy changes for public education are premised upon the idea that high-stakes tests can improve student outcomes and close achievement gaps. Opponents maintain that such policies fail on both counts. Using a unique longitudinal dataset from North Carolina, we find that high-stakes tests have failed to close achievement gaps associated with social class and race, and that the persistence of these gaps is related, at least in part, to academic tracking. Such findings add to the questions being raised about such policies as No Child Left Behind.

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