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Alternative Assessments for Special Education Students in the Southwest Region States
By: Stanley N. Rabinowitz, Edynn Sato, Betsy J. Case, Debra Benitez, Kevin Jordan
In 2003, the U.S. Department of Education issued regulations allowing states to develop alternate standards and assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. This study reviews and summarizes alternate assessment policies and practices and their implementation and impact for the most significantly cognitively disabled students, across the five states in the Southwest Region. more >
Format: PDF |
Analysis and Implications of Proposition 38: Will Vouchers Improve Student Access to Private Schools?
"...the details of the initiative, coupled with the projected capacity, costs, and admission practices of California private schools, would largely limit any expanded private school choice to more-advantaged families."
— from the WestEd Policy Brief more >
Format: PDF | Copyright: 2000
Order #: PO-00-04
An Analysis of State Data on the Distribution of Teaching Assignments Filled by Highly Qualified Teachers in New York Schools
By: Ann Brackett, Susan Mundry, Sarah Guckenburg, Patricia Bourexis
A high percentage of core teaching assignments in New York rural schools and districts are filled by highly qualified teachers, with only small differences across key factors such as school poverty and school need for improvement. The state's urban schools — particularly those in New York City — have fewer core assignments filled by highly qualified teachers. more >
Format: PDF |
An Analysis of Utah's K-3 Reading Improvement Program
By: Reino Makkonen, Chun-Wei Huang, Paul Koehler
This report, prepared by REL West, finds that more districts and charter schools in Utah reported implementing key elements of the state literacy framework and meeting their own goals in Year 2 of the Reading Improvement Program.
Format: PDF |
Are Small Schools Better? School Size Considerations for Safety and Learning
By: Joan McRobbie
"Overwhelming evidence indicates that violence is less likely in smaller schools. And a number of studies also find a correlation between smaller school size and higher achievement for poor and minority students, with all students performing at least as well if not better than in large schools."
—from the WestEd Policy Brief more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2001
Order #: PO-01-03
Assessment of Charter Schools Program Dissemination Funding
By: Lucy Steiner, Amy Way, Bryan Hassel
To promote dissemination of successful charter school practices, federal policymakers established the dissemination grant program as part of their broader charter school funding strategy in 1998. This evaluation examines the impact of the grant program and lays out three different options for its future. more >
Format: PDF | Copyright: 2006
ASSETs Final Evaluation Report
California 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) Program
By: Jerome Hipps, Marycruz Diaz
In this WestEd report, learn about California's 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) Program and how it influences students both academically and socially. more >
Format: PDF | Copyright: 2007
ASSETs Interim Evaluation Report
California 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) Program — Interim Evaluation
By: Jerome Hipps, Marycruz Diaz, Greg Wingren
California targets a portion of its funds from the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program to activities for high school students. Read about the initial progress of the first cohort of grantees participating in the California 21st High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) Program. more >
Format: PDF | Copyright: 2006
The Authentic Task Approach: A Results Driven Professional Development Strategy to Promote Learning
Format: PDF | Copyright: 1999
Balancing Local Assessment with Statewide Testing: Building a Program That Meets Student Needs
By: Stanley N. Rabinowitz, Sri Ananda
"Students across America are being tested at unprecedented rates, due in large part to a proliferation of state developed and administered assessments.... In this sea of statewide, high stakes assessment, it’s logical to wonder if and how local assessment fits in."
from the WestEd Knowledge Brief more >
Price: $8.00 | Format: Print | Copyright: 2001
Order #: KN-01-01
Battered Agencies: Supporting Those Who Serve Low-Income Communities
By: Diane F. Reed, J. Ronald Lally, Douglas Quiett
"This publication introduces a new concept to the field of family support work. We have coined the term 'battered agency' to explain some of the challenges that thwart local or indigenous agencies striving to serve low-income communities. Drawing on intensive field experience and relevant research, we put forward the notion that these agencies are hindered by risk factors remarkably like those facing the families they seek to help." — J. Ronald Lally, Co-Director, WestEd's Center for Child and Family Studies more >
Price: $9.95 | Format: Print | Copyright: 2003
ISBN: 978-0-914409-14-4 | Order #: CCFS-03-02
Beyond Description of the Problems
Directions for Research on Diversity and Equity Issues in K-12 Mathematics and Science Education
By: Ted (Edward) Britton, Senta A. Raizen, Joyce Kaser, Andrew Porter
"[N]othing is more important to science and mathematics education than addressing diversity and equity issues."
from the 2000 NISE Forum Report more >
Price: $8.00 | Format: Softcover | Copyright: 2000
Order #: NCISE-00-01
Bridging Cultures in Our Schools: New Approaches That Work
Knowledge Brief
By: Elise Trumbull, Carrie Rothstein-Fisch, Patricia M. Greenfield
Price: $8.00 | Format: Print | Copyright: 2000
Order #: LCD-99-01
Building a Workable Accountability System: Key Decision Points for Policymakers and Educators
By: Sri Ananda, Stanley N. Rabinowitz
"Education reform is becoming synonymous with accountability. To a greater extent than ever before, states are relying on accountability measures to ensure that their reform efforts take hold....The aims are laudable, yet designing an effective accountability system poses serious challenges for states."
—from the WestEd Knowledge Brief more >
Price: $8.00 | Format: Print | Copyright: 2001
Order #: KN-01-03
Building a Workable Accountability System: Policy Brief
By: Sri Ananda, Stanley N. Rabinowitz
"Hold schools more accountable for results, and teachers and administrators will do everything in their power to ratchet up student learning: That theory underlies the recent proliferation of statewide accountability systems through which policymakers hope to ensure that education reform takes hold and yields the desired outcome of high achievement for all students. Coming up with an effective system is not an easy task."
—from the WestEd Policy Brief more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2001
Order #: PO-01-02
California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (CPSEL)
By: California School Leadership Academy
We know that quality leadership matters in improving schools, districts, and student achievement. But what is quality leadership? The California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, also known as the Comprehensive Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, lay out quality standards for site and district leaders. more >
Format: PDF |
California's Charter Schools: Measuring Their Performance
By: Eric W. Crane, Brian Edwards, Noli Brazil
Have charter schools in California succeeded in improving academic performance? Read this report to learn about the impact of charter schools statewide. more >
Format: PDF | Copyright: 2007
California's Class Size Reduction: Implications for Equity, Practice, and Implementation
By: Edward Wexler, Jo Ann Izu, Lisa Carlos, Bruce Fuller, Gerald Hayward, Michael Kirst
This evaluation of California's first full year of its class size reduction effort draws on survey results and interviews with district and school staffs to examine how class size reduction has affected special populations, teacher credentials and distribution, teachers' classroom practices, and parental involvement. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 1998
Order #: CSR-98-03
California's Graduation Rate: The Hidden Crisis
Highlighting data on California's high school graduation rate, this report provides a comparison between California and other states, and draws three conclusions about the states ongoing trends in graduation. more >
Format: PDF | Copyright: 2004
Can State Intervention Spur Academic Turnaround?
By: Joan McRobbie
This report examines what "machinery" needs to be in place to enable and support state intervention with low-performing schools, what an intervention entails, and the key elements of success in a school turnaround. more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 1998
Order #: CSR-98-02
Career-Long Teacher Development: Policies That Make Sense
By: Joan McRobbie
"States must enact a system of teacher development anchored in agreed-upon expectations for what teachers should know and be able to do. Equally important, that system must encompass the entire teaching continuum, from recruitment through preparation, certification, induction, and the rest of the teacher's career."
from the WestEd Knowledge Brief more >
Price: $8.00 | Format: Print | Copyright: 2000
Order #: KN-00-03
Characteristics of Arizona School Districts in Improvement
By: Eric W. Crane, Chun-Wei Huang, Kenwyn Derby, Reino Makkonen, Aditi M. Goel
This descriptive analysis, prepared by REL West, provides a statistical profile of Arizona's lowest performing school districts, which can inform the context for district improvement as Arizona rolls out and refines its district intervention strategies. more >
Format: PDF |
Characteristics of California School Districts in Program Improvement
By: Eric W. Crane, Chun-Wei Huang, Kenwyn Derby, Reino Makkonen, Aditi M. Goel
This descriptive analysis, prepared by REL West, provides a statistical profile of California’s Title I school districts in program improvement. more >
Format: PDF |
Charter High Schools: Closing the Achievement Gap
By: WestEd for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement
This free guide addresses a central goal of current education reform efforts nationwide — closing achievement gaps that separate the academic performance of various subgroups of students, especially between low-income, minority, and special needs students and their peers. more >
Format: PDF |
Class Size Reduction: Great Hopes, Great Challenges
This policy brief discusses the potential benefits of reducing class size and the challenges of designing effective class size reduction (CSR) programs. Its recommendations on crafting successful CSR programs describe important design elements for policymakers to consider, such as targeting, teacher support, facility support, flexibility, and program evaluation.
more >
Format: Print | Copyright: 2000
Order #: PO-00-02
Class Size Reduction: Lessons Learned from Experience
By: Joan McRobbie, Jeremy D. Finn, Patrick Harman
This Policy Brief starts from the position that class size reduction is not a silver bullet, but rather one approach that has been shown to improve learning, especially in the early grades. It points out that a critical question is not whether class size can make a difference, but how and under what circumstances it does. more >
Price: $3.00 | Format: Print | Copyright: 1998
Order #: PO-98-01
Collaborative Evaluation Led by Local Educators: A Practical, Print- and Web-Based Guide
By: Ann Brackett
Designed especially for educators with limited background in evaluation, this guide provides a framework and process for local educators to use for continuous data gathering, sharing of findings, and planning for improvement. more >
Price: $9.00 | Format: Print | Copyright: 2004
Order #: LI-04-01
Computer-Based Assessment: Can It Deliver on Its Promise?
By: Stanley N. Rabinowitz, Tamara Brandt
"Computer use is so central to today’s society that it seems only a matter of time before computer-based assessment defines the test-administration process. States must plan now for that eventuality because, while the end of the road may already be determined, our ability to transport all segments of society safely and fairly to that point is by no means guaranteed."
—from the Knowledge Brief
more >
Price: $8.00 | Format: Print | Copyright: 2001
Order #: KN-01-05
Connecting Students to Advanced Courses Online
By: WestEd for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement
This guide highlights six providers of academic course work that are using Internet technology to deliver rigorous curricula to students. more >
Format: PDF |
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