Public schools in the United States are becomming increasingly segregated as population growth among minorities outpaces that of non-minorities. This trend toward resegregation may soon be accelerated due to a recent Supreme Court ruling which limits many voluntary efforts to integrate schools.

Assertiveness plays an important role in leadership abilities, but not always in the way people might think. While it is true that leaders who are less assertive are viewed as ineffective leaders, it is also true that excessive assertive behavior also reflects poor leadership. Leaders must find the right balance to ensure they can achieve their goals and deliver results without being insufferable or choking off relationships.

A new report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (Paris) finds that, although United States teachers tend to work longer hours than teachers in other countries, they are among the lowest paid relative to the Gross Domestic Product of their countries. In addition, while the United States spends more on prekindergarten education, we have one of the lowest preschool participation rates of the leading economic countries. 

Average reading and math scores on the SAT test dropped again this year, with reading scores reaching a 13-year low. However, there is some good news. Much of the decrease in average scores comes from the fact that more people are taking the SAT than ever before, particularly among minority students. While declining test scores is nothing to be proud of, the indication is that more students are expressing an interest in secondary education, which is an encouraging trend.

Across the country, regardless of economic or racial backgrounds, students are performing better on the NAEP tests than they ever have before. Math scores, in particular, are at record highs this year.

Many people believe that graduating from high school means that a student is ready to enter college. Colleges and businesses, on the other hand, feel that most high school graduates do not have the skills they need to move into the next phase of their life, according to a recent panel discussion convened by the Alliance for Excellence in Education.

College Navigator is a free consumer information tool designed to help students, parents, high school counselors, and others get information about nearly 7,000 postsecondary institutions in the United States. It offers a wide range of information such as programs offered, retention and graduation rates, prices, aid available, degrees awarded, campus safety, and accreditation.

McREL is looking for up to 50 elementary schools from across the U.S. to participate in a two-year study of Steck Vaughn’s Elements of Reading: Vocabulary program. Data will be collected from two groups of students, ranging from kindergarten to fourth grade, and participating teachers will receive stipends for their time and effort. Schools must have student populations with 40 percent or more students receiving free or reduced lunches. For more information, contact Dr. Helen Apthorp, principal researcher at McREL, via e-mail or by phone at (303) 632-5622.

McREL staff members will present pre-conference sessions at the T+L conference in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 17–19. Presented by the National School Boards Association (NSBA), T+L provides a truly unique learning experience for teams of technology directors, superintendents, school board members, district administrators, principals, and lead teachers. This year, McREL will be presenting two pre-conference sessions on Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works.

This professional development opportunity, offered in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 18-19, combines McREL’s research and expertise in leadership and change management with AdvancED’s District Accreditation Process. District teams will engage in discussion and use tools that are focused on leadership and change management challenges facing their districts.

McREL Principal Consultant Jackie Kearns Barber will be presenting two sessions on McREL’s Balanced Leadership Framework on November 1–2.

The Western Area Conference of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) will be held in Denver Nov. 8-10. Several McREL staff members are presenting, including Lead Consultant Anne Tweed, former president of NSTA, who will present sessions on "Classroom Discourse: Developing Understanding;" "Teaching Reading in Science;" and, with McREL Principal Consultant Bj Stone, a short course on Formative Assessment. John Ristvey, a principal consultant on McREL’s Education & Public Outreach team, will present on "Space Technology for the Physical Science Classroom," Dwarf Planets, and Nanotechnology. Elizabeth Ross Hubbell, McREL senior consultant, will present on "Leveraging Technology for Science Inquiry: Research-based Instructional Strategies."

This publication highlights successful charter schools that have common standards for creating a challenging curriculum, maintaining high expectations, and offering support to all students.

This report provides a one-page summary of every state and jurisdiction that participated in the 2007 NAEP mathematics assessment. The report describes student results, NAEP achievement levels for past years, and demographic data such as gender, race, and economic status.

This report provides a one-page summary of every state and jurisdiction that participated in the 2007 NAEP reading assessment. The report describes student results, NAEP achievement levels for past years, and demographic data such as gender, race, and economic status.

This report evaluates parent and student responses to the demands to increase science, math, and technology training in our schools. The surprising result is that 70 percent of Kansas and Missouri students and parents interviewed believe that the current curricula in these areas are adequate, while most business, government, and higher-education leaders believe that we need to raise these standards.

This report examines education conditions and trends for minority students nationwide. The report finds that minority students have become more likely to complete high school and earn a college degree than in previous decades, but that significant performance gaps remain between minority and non-minority students.

This publication is a compilation of education statistics covering PreK–20 students. It summarizes the more detailed Digest of Education Statistics 2006.

Leading provider of quality interactive online education, Jones Knowledge Group® (JK) has signed a contract to bring online Classroom Instruction that Works courses to K–12 teachers in one of the most remote places in the world: the North Slope Borough district in Barrow, Alaska.

McREL Principal Researcher Bruce Randel was recently quoted by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader in an article about the improvement in NAEP scores for S.D. students.

Anthony (Tony) R. Davis, a former principal and university instructor, joined McREL as a principal consultant on the leadership team.

Former principal and education consultant Dana Frazee joined McREL as a principal consultant on the Field Services team.

Administrator Maria Elena Garcia joined McREL as a principal consultant in school improvement.

Jackie Kearns-Barber, an educator with more than 30 years experience in administration and leadership, joined McREL as a principal consultant on the leadership team.

Research and evaluation expert Juanita Lyons joined McREL as Senior Director.

Commissioner Dwight Jones announced the launch of Forward Thinking, a new plan in which McREL and the Colorado Department of Education will work to increase the graduation rate and close the achievement gap in all Colorado schools.