Policy, Politics, Statistics

Position Statement on Student Grade Retention and Social Promotion

By: National Association of School Psychologists (2008)

In this position statement about student grade retention and social promotion, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) identifies characteristics of students more likely to be retained; and the impact of retention at the secondary school level, late adolescence, and early adulthood. NASP also provides a long list of alternatives to retention and social promotion.

Time to Learn

By: Christopher Gabrieli and Warren Goldstein (2008)

In this excerpt from the book Time to Learn: How a New School Schedule Is Making Smarter Kids, Happier Parents & Safer Neighborhoods, the authors discuss how a longer school day can support achievement in reading and math while providing a richer, broader curriculum. The book discusses extended day success stories in public schools throughout the country, the impact on teachers and families, and benefits for English language learners and children with learning disabilities.

More Schools Turn to Extended Days

By: Ellen Delisio (2007)

Hours of test preparation, especially in underperforming schools, has left little time for electives or even some of the un-tested basic subjects. Adding time to the school day and year has helped some schools improve their scores and flesh out their curriculums.

Tough Choices or Tough Times: The Report of the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce

By: National Center on Education and the Economy (2007)

America's approach to education has lagged behind as industry and technology have continued to advance. To truly prepare students for the 21st century workforce, and to remain competitive in the global economy, the National Center on Education and the Economy has ten policy recommendations for America's schools.

Determining Adequate Yearly Progress From Kindergarten through Grade 6 with Curriculum-Based Measurement

By: Lynn S. Fuchs and Douglas Fuchs (2007)

Use Curriculum-Based Measurement to make sure students are on track for academic success by charting their trajectory of improvement all the way through the school year. CBM calculates rate of improvement during the first month of school and determines how much a student will need to improve each month to reach benchmark goals.

No Child Left Behind at Five

By: Victor Chudowsky and Naomi Chudowsky (2007)

One of the toughest parts of NCLB for local school districts is creating an accountability plan that works. While school districts have made progress in accountability over the last five years, they have also encountered great obstacles, outlined here.

The Need for Flexible Alternatives to Print

By: CAST (2006)

An important change in special education law in 2004 was the inclusion of NIMAS, the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard. This new regulation requires educational publishers to provide textbooks and other print materials in a digital format, so that students who have trouble with print can access the curriculum.

Teach to the Test? Just Say No

By: Craig D. Jerald (2006)

It is possible for educators to make better choices about how and when to teach to the test than the alarmist newspaper articles and editorials would seem to suggest. This article from the Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement aims to help readers think beyond simple compliance with federal law or basic implementation of programs.

Early Literacy: Policy and Practice in the Preschool Years

By: Dorothy Strickland and Shannon Riley-Ayers (2006)

Ten Big Effects of the No Child Left Behind Act on Public Schools

By: Jack Jennings and Diane Stark Retner (2006)

After five years of NCLB, researchers are beginning to measure the impact of this law on our public schools. A broad overview of their findings helps us see what's going right, what's going wrong, and how to improve the weak spots without losing the strengths.

What Do Reading Comprehension Tests Measure? Knowledge.

By: E. D. Hirsch, Jr. (2006)

The federal No Child Left Behind law requires more testing of students, and has spurred some frantic and ineffectual test preparation in many schools, says the author, E. D. Hirsch, Jr. Reading tests must use unpredictable texts to be accurate measures of reading ability, but if you cannot predict the subject matter on a valid reading test, how can you prepare students? Hirsch says you can't, and, therefore, you shouldn’t try. The only useful way to prepare for a reading test is indirectly–by becoming a good reader of a broad range of texts, an ability that requires broad general knowledge."

No Child Left Behind: Determining Appropriate Assessment Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

By: Candace Cortiella (2005)

Assessment accommodations help people with learning disabilities display their skills accurately on examinations. Teachers, learn how to test the true knowledge of your students. Don't test their ability to write quickly if you want to see their science skills! Parents, these pointers will help you assure that your children are tested fairly.

Understanding Assessment Options for IDEA-eligible Students

By: Candace Cortiella (2005)

The No Child Left Behind law requires each school test students in Reading/Language Arts & Math each year in grades 3-8, and at least once more in grades 10-12. In some cases, children eligible for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) services may be able to access testing accommodations or even alternate tests, but parents need to fully understand the implications and potential consequences of participation in the various testing options.

No Child Left Behind: Making the Most of Options for IDEA-eligible Students

By: Candace Cortiella (2005)

If a Title I school repeatedly underperforms, federal law provides opportunities for students to change schools or obtain additional instructional support. This parent advocacy brief looks at the information parents of students with disabilities need to know and understand in order to maximize these options.

Making the "No Child Left Behind Act" Work for Children Who Struggle to Learn

By: Candace Cortiella (2005)

This article provides an overview of the federal No Child Left Behind law and includes information to help parents use provisions of NCLB to ensure that their child has access to appropriate instruction.

The Nation's Report Card: Reading 2005

By: National Education Commission of the States (2005)

The Nation's Report Card™, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), is a nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. For over three decades, assessments have been conducted periodically in reading, mathematics, science, writing, history, geography, and other subjects.

Facts About Reading Aloud

By: U.S Department of Education (2004)

Reading to young children promotes language acquisition and correlates with literacy development and, later on, with achievement in reading comprehension and overall success in school.

The National Reading Panel

By: National Center for Education Statistics (2003)

In 1997, Congress asked the "Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to convene a national panel to assess the status of research-based knowledge, including the effectiveness of various approaches to teaching children to read."

Study: Full-Day Kindergarten Boosts Academic Performance

By: Debra Viadero (2002)

This article says that according to a new study, former full-day kindergartners were more than twice as likely as children without any kindergarten experiences – and 26 percent more likely than graduates of half-day programs – to have made it to 3rd and 4th grade without having repeated a grade. This study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association.

High-Quality Preschool: Why We Need It and What It Looks Like

By: National Institute for Early Education Research (2002)

Research shows that 3- and 4-year-olds who attend a high-quality preschool are more successful in kindergarten and beyond. But research also shows that most preschool programs are not high-quality. This policy brief looks at what "high-quality" means, and how early childhood education can be improved.