Download or read book Enduring Myths That Inhibit School Turnaround written by Coby V. Meyers and published by IAP. This book was released on 2017-05-01 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The concept of school turnaround—rapidly improving schools and increasing student achievement outcomes in a short period of time—has become politicized despite the relative newness of the idea. Unprecedented funding levels for school improvement combined with few examples of schools substantially increasing student achievement outcomes has resulted in doubt about whether or not turnaround is achievable. Skeptics have enumerated a number of reasons to abandon school turnaround at this early juncture. This book is the first in a new series on school turnaround and reform intended to spur ongoing dialogue among and between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners on improving the lowest-performing schools and the systems in which they operate. The “turnaround challenge” remains salient regardless of what we call it. We must improve the nation’s lowest-performing schools for many moral, social, and economic reasons. In this first book, education researchers and scholars have identified a number of myths that have inhibited our ability to successfully turn schools around. Our intention is not to suggest that if these myths are addressed school turnaround will always be achieved. Business and other literatures outside of education make it clear that turnaround is, at best, difficult work. However, for a number of reasons, we in education have developed policies and practices that are often antithetical to turnaround. Indeed, we are making already challenging work harder. The myths identified in this book suggest that we still struggle to define or understand what we mean by turnaround or how best, or even adequately, measure whether it has been achieved. Moreover, it is clear that there are a number of factors limiting how effectively we structure and support low-performing schools both systemically and locally. And we have done a rather poor job of effectively leveraging human resources to raise student achievement and improve organizational outcomes. We anticipate this book having wide appeal for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in consideration of how to support these schools taking into account context, root causes of low-performance, and the complex work to ensure their opportunity to be successful. Too frequently we have expected these schools to turn themselves around while failing to assist them with the vision and supports to realize meaningful, lasting organizational change. The myths identified and debunked in this book potentially illustrate a way forward.

Download or read book School Turnaround Policies and Practices in the US written by Joseph F. Murphy and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-12-12 with total page 173 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides an analysis of what we know about turning around "failing" schools in the United States. It starts with an in-depth examination of the barriers that hinder action on turnaround work. The book analyses the reasons why some schools that find themselves in serious academic trouble fail in their efforts to turn themselves around. Beginning with a discussion of what may best be described as "lethal" reasons or the most powerful explanation for failed reform initiatives, which include an absence of attention to student care and support; a near absence of attention to curriculum and instruction; the firing of the wrong people. Covered in this volume are "critical" explanations for failed turnaround efforts such as failure to attend to issues of sustainability, and "significant" explanations for failed turnaround efforts such as the misuse of test data. The volume concludes by examining what can be done to overcome problems that cause failure for turnaround schools and reviewing ideas in the core technology of schooling: curriculum, instruction, and assessment. As well as exploring problems associated with the leadership and management of schools to see where improvement is possible and an analysis of opportunities found in relationships between schools and their external partners such as parents and community members.

Download or read book Failure Up Close written by Jay P. Greene and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2018-01-17 with total page 215 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For many reasons, failure in education reform is rarely admitted. Even though it is incredibly hard work to try and improve the enormous and diverse American education system, because there are political consequences of admitting that a particular effort did not live up to its promises and pressure from philanthropic funders to show success, unsuccessful efforts are often swept under the rug or papered over with public relations efforts that avoid wrestling with the tough realities of educational improvement. This doesn’t help anyone. As any educator will tell you, failure is an essential part of learning. Insofar as education reform needs to be a learning movement itself, it has to be able to admit where it has failed and learn from it. Failure Up-Close engages a select group of scholars from across the ideological spectrum to examine particular education reform efforts of recent years that have not succeeded and offer lessons for school and system improvement that can be learned from them. Rather than view failure as negative, this volume looks at failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. In fact, the editors endeavored to find authors that would analyze reforms for which they had some fundamental sympathy. The goal is not to bash particular efforts or castigate their supporters but rather to help those supporters understand how to do what they do better, and ultimately, do better for children.

Download or read book Organizing Schools for Improvement written by Anthony S. Bryk and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2010-03-15 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1988, the Chicago public school system decentralized, granting parents and communities significant resources and authority to reform their schools in dramatic ways. To track the effects of this bold experiment, the authors of Organizing Schools for Improvement collected a wealth of data on elementary schools in Chicago. Over a seven-year period they identified one hundred elementary schools that had substantially improved—and one hundred that had not. What did the successful schools do to accelerate student learning? The authors of this illuminating book identify a comprehensive set of practices and conditions that were key factors for improvement, including school leadership, the professional capacity of the faculty and staff, and a student-centered learning climate. In addition, they analyze the impact of social dynamics, including crime, critically examining the inextricable link between schools and their communities. Putting their data onto a more human scale, they also chronicle the stories of two neighboring schools with very different trajectories. The lessons gleaned from this groundbreaking study will be invaluable for anyone involved with urban education.

Download or read book Resources in Education written by and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 756 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Learning Centered Framework for Education Reform written by Elizabeth Demarest and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2015-04-24 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In her new book, Betty Demarest describes a bold agenda for education reform—one that is firmly grounded in a synthesis of educational research about learning, teaching, and the contexts of education. The author’s “learning-centered” framework includes: (1) a broad and balanced set of education goals, (2) a multi-faceted concept of achievement, (3) classroom capacity for learning, (4) systemic capacity and infrastructure, (5) shared, reciprocal accountability, and (6) systems of multiple assessments. New research-based concepts in these six areas are critically compared to older concepts behind standards-based reform and No Child Left Behind. Book Features: A comprehensive, alternative framework for future education reform that focuses on improving the core educational practices of learning, teaching, content, and leadership. A federal role that emphasizes meaningful partnerships rather than top-down control. A critique of past standards and present accountability-based frameworks, with implications of the learning-centered framework for future national policy, especially ESEA An operational definition of educational capacity, a re-conceptualization of accountability, and a sharp reversal of the relative emphasis placed on these strategies. Elizabeth J. Demarestis an education consultant living in Alexandria, Virginia. She was formerly with the U.S. Department of Education and the National Education Association. “Betty Demarest clearly defines a learning-centered framework for improving policy and practice. Practitioners can benefit from the strategies outlining a clear pathway for transforming to learning-centered practice in our nation’s classrooms.” —Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director, National Association of Secondary School Principals “Betty Demarest’s deep experience with research and policy development allows her to re-envision reform at many levels, all based on research evidence for valid concepts and practices of teaching and learning. This book is a welcome gift to policymakers and practitioners.” —Roland Tharp, research professor, University of California, Berkeley “Demarest provides a research-based foundation for informed discussion and debate as Congress renews federal education law. Her synthesis of key issues should provide a starting point for any serious discussion of the way forward in federal education policy.” —Mary Haywood Metz, professor emerita, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Download or read book The State Role in School Turnaround written by Lauren Morando Rhim and published by IAP. This book was released on 2014-03-01 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With chapters written by leading researchers and practitioners actively engaged in the work, this Edited Volume examines the role of the state education agency in school turnaround efforts. An emphasis is placed on practical application of research and best practice related to the State Education Agency’s (SEA’s) critical leadership role in driving and supporting successful school turnaround efforts. The Edited Volume is organized around the Center on School Turnaround’s four objectives, with sections devoted to each: 1. Create a Pro-Turnaround Statutory and Regulatory Environment 2. Administer and Manage Turnaround Efforts Effectively 3. Provide Targeted and Timely Technical Assistance to Local Educational Agencies and Schools 4. Advocate and Lead to Build Support for Local Turnaround Efforts

Download or read book Handbook on Statewide Systems of Support written by Sam Redding and published by Information Age Publishing. This book was released on 2008 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As subsequent chapters point out, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires states to provide assistance to districts in improving the schools within their purview. Of course, the U.S. Constitution and federal laws leave the control of education largely to the states, and states have long provided support to school districts. In return for federal monies, however, NCLB requires states to provide such help under the statewide systems of support (SSOS) provision of the Act. The purposes of this Handbook are to survey the research related to statewide systems of support, to present the experience and insights of educational leaders in how such support can best be conducted, and to derive actionable principles for improving schools. It is intended for use not only by the staff of the U.S. Department of Education-sponsored Regional Centers that serve state department staff but also by the staff of school districts and schools. Also sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the Center on Innovation & Improvement (CII) previously developed the Handbook on Restructuring and Substantial School Improvement (Walberg, 2007) that became the basis of CII's technical assistance to Regional Centers on this topic. CII made available for downloading Power Point presentations and web-based seminars ("webinars") based on the previous Handbook. CII's intended audiences widely employed the previous Handbook on Restructuring and Substantial School Improvement and auxiliary materials and found them useful in their technical assistance efforts to disseminate and encourage evidence-based ideas for restructuring and improving schools. With advice from the U.S. Department of Education, scholarly experts, and experienced educators in the Regional Centers, state departments of education, and school districts, the CII staff concluded that what it envisioned as the present Handbook would be similarly useful.

Download or read book The Obama Administration s Education Agenda written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Higher Education Opportunity Act written by United States and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-07-29 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators.

Download or read book Compendium of HHS Evaluation Studies written by HHS Evaluation Documentation Center (U.S.) and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 854 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Student Success Act written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and the Workforce and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 980 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book School Choice and the Impact of COVID 19 written by Michael Guo-Brennan and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2023-07-31 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through the broad lens of political economy and centred around education reform policy, this essential book provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of American public education and the impact of Covid-19 on calls for change. Drawing upon evidence from nations that routinely outperform America, this text proposes a more holistic approach to accountability and improvement within the American public education system. Chapters explore the issues faced by the current American public education system and proposes potential solutions, including: the role of government as provider of education services; liberty, democracy, and freedom and the ability of parents to control their child’s education; growing frustration with schools, public policies surrounding Covid and other potential crises; and how these concerns will impact the school choice movement. This is an important read for researchers and postgraduate students in education, teachers, parents, public policy makers and appointed government officials who wish to improve the quality of public education. Whether for or against school choice, this book will leave you better informed on current issues of American public education.

Download or read book To Investigate the Adequacy and Effectiveness of Federal Disaster Relief Legislation written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Public Works. Subcommittee on Disaster Relief and published by . This book was released on 1973 with total page 608 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Congressional Record written by United States. Congress and published by . This book was released on 1971 with total page 1348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: