We have created an extensive collection of research since our inception. The actual research publications are available for a nominal fee. They can be ordered online using our publications order form.

• Academic Vocational Education
• Alternative Schools
• Assessment/Accountability
• At-Risk Students
• Collaborative Teaching
• Differentiated Instruction
• Disruptive Students
• Dropping Out: Why Students Leave School
• Early Reading Interventions
• Effectiveness of Summer Remediation for High-Stakes Testing
• High School Graduate Follow-Up
• Integration of Vocational & Academic Education
• Language Arts Instruction
• Literacy Passport Test
• Mathematics
• Overage Middle School Students
• Parental Involvement
• Induction and Retaining Teachers Across the Professional Continuum
• Overage Middle School Students
• Retaining Quality Teachers
• SOL Testing Accountability Accreditation 
• Staff Development
• Overage Middle School Students
• Students' Perspectives of Their High School Experience
• Stories of Student Success in Title I Elementary Schools
• Teachers' Classroom Assessment
• Teacher Researcher
• Teacher - Recruiting Retaining
• Technology
• Work Force Preparation

AERA , ERIC , NCME, OERI , USDDE , VAPEN , CEPI , NCES , CRESST , CTP

Academic & Vocational Education
This publication reviews the literature on the integration of academic and vocational education, and then proposes a system design to improve educational services to all students. Building on the literature, an outline of an instructional guidance system is offered as a starting point for school divisions embarking on this promising path. The study begins with a clear definition of what is expected of students, curricular frameworks, and an individual and program monitoring delivery system.

Alternative Schools
This study was designed to describe the initial few months of implementation of an alternative school for ninth and tenth grade students, to evaluate important factors related to student success, and to provide recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the school. Semi-structured interviews of administrators, counselors and teachers were conducted, along with document analysis and some observations.

To find out more, view the research brief below:

1. Effectiveness of Alternative Schools

 
Assessment/Accountability
The research team studied leading school divisions to determine how they use performance-based assessment for instruction and accountability. They identified useful formats for local program and policy implementation.

To find out more, view the research brief below:

1. Performance-Based Assessment

 
RetainingQualityTeachers
This study used qualitative, in-depth interviews and focus groups of teachers currently working in Richmond metropolitan area public schools. The study identified reasons teachers were remaining in their school divisions, reasons they felt their colleagues had left their school divisions, and perceptions of teachers regarding local school division teacher retention strategies.

 
At-Risk Students
The research team studied academically successful "at-risk" students to determine how instructional practices and programs can encourage success for all such students. They developed a model school divisions can utilize to develop resiliency in at-risk students.

 To find out more, select one of the research briefs below:

1. Students Who Defy the Odds: A Study of Resilient At-Risk Students
2. Developing Resilient Schools and Resilient Students

Collaborative Teaching
This project involved a comprehensive study of collaborative teaching for academically able students with disabilities. Perspectives of administrators, collaborative teachers, students in collaborative programs, and parents, were investigated.

To find out more, view the research brief below:

1. The Efficacy of the Collaborative Teaching Model for Serving Academically-able Special Education Students

Differentiation of Instructional Methodologies
The purpose of this study was to examine how teachers use instructional methods to meet students' diverse academic needs at the secondary level. The purpose of the study was brought into focus by posing the following research questions: 1) How important is addressing students' diverse academic needs? 2) Which instructional methods are being used to address the differences? 3) Which methods are effective? 4) Which factors facilitate and which factors inhibit a teacher's ability to differentiate instruction? Surveys were distributed to a stratified sample of 386 secondary school teachers from 28 high schools.

To find out more, view the research brief below:

1. Differentiation of Instructional Methodologies in Subject-Based Curricula at the Secondary Level

Disruptive Students in the Classroom
The purpose of this review was to explore the issue of disruptive students in the classroom and to offer suggestions and solutions to the problem. The review is divided into three major areas: (1) definitions and characteristics of disruptive students; (2) reasons why students misbehave; and (3) suggestions and solutions for solving the problem.

Dropping Out: Why Students Leave School
The purpose of this study was to use in-depth interviews of students who had left school for academic reasons to identify specific factors in the classroom that they believe contributed to their departure.˜ The study also examined what school drop-outs believed personnel could do to prevent other at-risk students from leaving school.

Effectiveness of Summer Remediation for High-Stakes Testing
This study examined ninth grade students who failed to receive a passing score on one or more SOL tests in May and retook the tests in July. Analyses showed that for Algebra I, students who attended summer school and focused on preparation for the test did much better than students who did not attend summer school. Moreover, gains were evident even with very low May scores. The results for other subjects also support the importance of summer school in helping students pass the SOL tests.

Early Intervention
The purpose of this study was to examine the programs and practices employed in area schools to teach primary students to read, and identify the differences in successful and unsuccessful at risk students. Additionally, this study determines the relationships between problems identified, reading interventions, outcomes, and present implications of the study for schools, data used was from student records and teacher interviews.

To find out more, view the research brief below:

1. Early Reading Interventions: What Works?

High SchoolGraduate/Former Student Follow-Up Surveys: Conducted by Public School Systems

The purpose of this review is to summarize graduate follow-up activities in member school divisions of this consortium and other selected school divisions in the state and across the country.

Integration of Vocational & Academic Education
This publication reviews the literature on the integration of academic and vocational education, and then proposes a system design to improve educational services to all students. Building on the literature, an outline of an instructional guidance system is offered as a beginning point for school divisions embarking on this promising path. The study begins with a clear definition of what is expected of students, curricular frameworks, and an individual and program monitoring delivery system.

 
Language Arts Instruction
The purpose of the study was to: 1) identify language arts instructional policies and practices used by teachers, 2) determine if a relationship exists between school climate factors and instructional practices, and 3) compare results with those of the National Assessment Educational Progress (NAEP).

 
Literacy Passport Test
The purpose of this study was to examine the instructional strategies teachers and other school personnel have employed to successfully remediate students who have failed the reading and writing parts of the Virginia Literacy Passport Test (LPT), or the LPT Predictor Test. The intent was to determine if specific approaches seem to work best for different types of students, and if particular materials, teaching strategies, scheduling, and other factors are associated with successful remediation.

To find out more, view the research brief below:

1. Successful Literacy Passport Test Remediation Strategies for Elementary and Middle School Students

 
Mathematics
The research team recently completed a study of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards (NCTM). Research identified staff development opportunities necessary to implement the standards.

To find out more, select one of the research briefs below:

1. 1990 National Assessment of Educational Progress: Analysis & Interpretive Remarks
2. Implementation of the NCTM Standards
3. NCTM Standards: What do Principals Say About Their Implementation?
4. The NCTM Standards: Recommendations for Action

 
Impact of Overage Middle School Students
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of overage middle school students on middle schools. The intent of the study was to collect quantitative and qualitative data to determine: 1) the extent of the problem of overage middle school students; 2) the impact that the problem had on schools and classrooms; 3) what schools are doing about the problem; and 4) effective strategies for all middle schools. A purposeful, non-probability sample was selected from 33 middle schools and each school was asked to distribute questionnaires to 12 selected teachers.

To find out more, view the research brief below:

1. Impact of Overage Middle School Students

 
Parental Involvement
The purpose of this study was to investigate both the degree and nature of parental involvement at three high schools, representing urban, suburban, and rural environments.

To find out more, view the research brief below:

1. Parental Involvement in Schools: Case Studies of Three High Schools in a Southeastern Metropolitan Area

Enhancing Parental Involvement in Urban Schools: Types of Programs, Characteristics of Successful Programs, and Proven Strategies
The purpose of this report was to review literature and survey best practices to provide practical suggestions for enhancing parental involvement in urban schools. The focus was on practices that have been proven to work in the field. The intent was to provide some resource, information, and assistance that would help overcome barriers that prevent students from reaching their academic potential.

Induction-Retaining Teachers Across the Professional Continuum
The purpose of this report was to review the literature on induction programs as well as how to support and retain teachers throughout their careers.˜ Headings include factors in teacher attrition, induction program goals, outcomes, and problems, mentoring, and in-service teacher development.

Scheduling Alternatives
This study was commissioned to study the effects of different high school schedules on teaching strategies, teacher and student satisfaction, and student and school performance. Data were gathered from 12 high schools using various high school schedules. The data are rich and include results from student, teacher, and administrator surveys and personal interviews. The respective characteristics, attributes, and effects of each scheduling model are displayed in matrix format.

To find out more, select one of the research briefs below:

1. Alternative High School Scheduling - A View from the Teacher's Desk
2. Alternative High School Scheduling - A View from the Student's Desk
3. Alternative High School Scheduling - Student Achievement and Behavior

SOL Testing Accountability and Accreditation
Standards-based educational reform has resulted in the development of statewide "high stakes" testing that reaches into the heart of the instructional process, affecting teacher behavior, students' experiences, and the nature of subject matter that is taught. This investigation used a qualitative case study approach to examine the implementation of high stakes testing and accountability in seven Richmond area schools (3 elementary, 2 middle and 2 high schools) that represent seven school divisions and the broad spectrum of community types. Data were obtained from interviews of superintendents, principals and teachers, as well as from observations and reviews of documents.
To find out more, view the research brief below:

1. SOL  Testing, Accountability & Accreditation

Staff Development
The purpose of this project was to identify school divisions and certain businesses that promote the use of staff development programs. The study compares the purposes for training, the types of training offered, incentives for training, its effectiveness and value.