Region III


 Comprehensive Center   George


 Washington University
Region III


 Comprehensive Center

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Center for Equity 


and Excellence in Education

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Finding the Family in Comprehensive School Reform Models: A guide for Discussion

May 2002


Finding the Family in Comprehensive School Reform Models: A Guide for Discussion is directed at school and district administrators. It is intended to serve as an aid in determining the degree to which a Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) model supports family and community involvement.

 

An Evaluation of the Montgomery County Public Schools English for Speakers of Other Languages Program

December 2001; appended April 2002


This 2002 program evaluation of the Montgomery County Public Schools' (MCPS) Division of ESOL/Bilingual Programs examined ESOL programs and services in the greater context of MCPS programs, policies, and structures. Key findings and recommendations centered on three foci: (1) instruction and curriculum; (2) organizational structure; and (3) assessment and student achievement. The evaluation was prompted by population increases and demographic shifts that reflect the need to serve a growing English language learner student population who enter MCPS with widely divergent educational backgrounds and needs. Findings and recommendations are based on analyses of: (1) interviews and focus groups with teachers, principals, parents and MCPS leadership; (2) classroom observations; and (3) reviews of curriculum materials, policy documents and data from the Division of ESOL/Bilingual Programs, MCPS and the Maryland State Department of Education.

 

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A Practical Discussion of Inclusion Issues in Statewide Assessments Emerging from Standards-Based Education Reform and Title I.

September 2001


Vincent, C. & Schenk, E.A.  Published by the Region Three Comprehensive Center at George Washington University's Center for Equity and Excellence in Education. 

Executive Summary

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Study of Whole School Reform Implementation in New Jersey Abbott Districts

April 2001


Whole-school reform (WSR) is the response of New Jersey to the State Supreme Court's ruling in the 1998 Abbott v. Burke case. The Region III Comprehensive Center studied the implementation of WSR in New Jersey, using multiple research methods including several surveys, site visits and telephone interviews. In this report, R3CC demonstrates how, and in what ways, the success of WSR efforts are critically linked with organizational capacity. In short, the study finds that without capacity at all levels - school, district, and state - WSR cannot succeed.

 

Executive Summary

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An Analysis of State Policies for the Inclusion and Accommodation of English Language Learners in State Assessment Programs during 1998-1999

April 2002

A Study sponsored by the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Language Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education

Rivera, C., Stansfield, C., Scialdone, L. & Sharkey, M. Published by the Region Three Comprehensive Center at George Washington University's Center for Equity and Excellence in Education. 

The purpose of this study is to document inclusion, exemption, and accommodation Policies related to English language learners (ELLs) for state required assessments. The data presented on this site is based on an analysis of state policies in place during the 1998-1999 school year. Hundreds of documents were analyzed in order to determine:

  • What were the states' inclusion/exemption policies in the 1998-1999 school year?
  • What were the states' accommodation policies for ELLs in the 1998-1999 school year?
  • What were the states' score reporting policies for ELL students who received an accommodated version of the state assessment in the 1998-1999 school year?
  • What were the states' alternate assessment and score reporting policies for ELL students in the 1998-1999 school year?
  • This site includes three search engines:

  • Search State Policies - This search presents a list of general policy items such as "State has a policy regarding inclusion/exemption." Selecting policy items from the list and pressing the search button returns a list of states that address the policy items selected.
  • Search Inclusion and Accommodation Decision and Criteria - This search presents a list of decision makers such as students, parents, and teachers as well as a list of criteria such as time in U.S. and time in state's schools. The decision and criteria items can be applied to either inclusion/exemption policy or accommodation policy.
  • Search Accommodation Policies - This search presents a list of accommodations and allows the user to specify whether a certain accommodation is allowed on some components, all components, or not at all. This section also allows the user to specify whether or not state policy indicates that scores are reported when different accommodations are used.
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    CSR Briefs

    March 1999

    An occassional series of articles highlighting key issues related to the implementation of the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Program.

     

     



     

     


    Developing A District and School Accountability System

    1998

    Illustrates how a district and school can build a new accountability system focused on (1) student performance results, (2) schools as the unit of improvement, and (3) the use of continuous improvement strategies. Although prepared specifically for New Jersey Abbott districts, it can be used and adapted by others interested in designing an accountability system based upon the "rate" of improvement not comparative performance in relation to demographically different schools. [PDF, 216k]