Free Online Publications

Achievement Gap Patterns of Grade 8 American Indian and Alaska Native Students in Reading and Math

By: Steven Nelson, Richard Greenough, Nicole Sage

In response to a request by the Council of Chief State School Officers, this study reports on the gap between American Indian and Alaska Native students and all other students on state achievement tests beginning in 2003–2004, shortly after implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. more >

Format: PDF

Alternate 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

Alternative Education Options: A Descriptive Study of California Continuation High Schools

By: Gregory Austin, Jorge Ruiz de Velasco, Don Dixon, Joseph Johnson, Milbrey McLaughlin, Lynne Perez

This issue brief summarizes initial findings from a year-long descriptive study of continuation high schools in California. It is the first in a series of reports from the ongoing California Alternative Education Research Project conducted jointly by the John W. Gardner Center at Stanford University, the National Center for Urban School Transformation at San Diego State University, and WestEd's Health and Human Development Program. more >

Format: PDF | Copyright: 2008

Alternatives to School District Consolidation

Knowledge Brief #2

By: BethAnn Berliner

Format: Print | Copyright: 1990
Order #: ETC-89-07

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: Susan Mundry, Patricia Bourexis, Sarah Guckenburg, Ann Brackett

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.

 more >

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: Trade Paper | 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: Trade Paper | 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 Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations

By: California Department of Education, Center for Child & Family Studies

Edited by: Faye Ong

"The first three years are a crucial time of development. Research on brain development indicates that the brains of infants and toddlers are twice as active as those of adults. By the time children reach the age of three, they have become competent in at least one language, formed a sense of self, learned about basic concepts such as cause-and-effect and quantity, and developed numerous large- and small-muscle skills." — Jack O’Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction (from the foreword) more >

Format: PDF | Copyright: 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8011-1693-3

California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (CPSEL)

Produced by: California School Leadership Academy at WestEd, Association of California School Administrators

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 | Copyright: 2004

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

With Jin Sook Lee, Kyo Yamashiro, John F. Flaherty, Dianna Gutierrez

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: Online | Copyright: 1998

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

Characteristics of California School Districts in Program Improvement: 2008 Update

By: Eric W. Crane, Chun-Wei Huang, Min Huang, Kenwyn Derby

This descriptive analysis, prepared by REL West, updates an earlier study of California's Title I school districts in program improvement. This brief reveals that by aggregating student data to the district level, California’s accountability system continues to be able to identify shortfalls in student academic performance that are not picked up when looking only at the school level. 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