A new report, published in the journal Science, finds that peer discussions during "clicker" sessions help students learn more than during a typical lecture.

Five years after increasing spending on academic equity, Maryland students have made remarkable gains in reading and mathematics, according to a new report by MGT of America. According to the report, every additional $1,000 spent per student led to a significant increase in test scores.

A new study found Boston charter schools outperformed traditional schools. Researchers have asked the state to appoint a task force to identify what is working for the charter schools and apply the findings to traditional schools.

Researchers are calling free and reduced-priced breakfasts at school a "magic bullet" for improving student performance. Yet only half of the eligible students are taking advantage of the program, most commonly because of scheduling issues, fear of social stigma, and lack of awareness.

New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that a principal’s choice of focus depends primarily on the school context, to a lesser degree on personal attributes, and on the interaction between the two. Principals may become student leaders (directing their attention primarily to student needs), instructional leaders (focused on improving instructional practices), or generalists (evenly distributing their time and attention).

A new report finds that unprepared kindergartners cost Minnesota millions of dollars due to increased drop-out rates, increased teacher turnover, special education, English instruction, and school safety.

A new report found that fewer than 2 in 10 of the nation’s 8th graders are on track for college, and that they are unlikely to catch up during high school. Although high school plays a significant role in college preparation, 8th grade performance remains the most accurate predictor of later college and workplace success.

The National Institute for Literacy has released findings from Developing Early Literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel, A Scientific Synthesis of Early Literacy Development and Implications for Intervention. The report offers advice on predictors of early literacy, such as alphabet knowledge, phonemic awareness, rapid naming skills, writing (such as writing one's name), and short-term memory for words said aloud.

The 13th annual report card tracking state education policies and outcomes is now available from Education Week. The report provides a state-by-state analysis of key indicators of student success, and for the first time ever includes state-by-state data related to English-language learners.

This report estimates the number and percentage of students in the United States who were homeschooled in 2007. The data shows significant increases from similar studies conducted in 1999 and 2003.

A new large-scale randomized controlled trial study found that comprehensive teacher induction programs show little benefit to teachers in their first year. The study authors caution, however, that these results apply only to first-year teachers and that continued research will determine what, if any, impact these programs have on the long-term performance of teachers.

This report provides information about the performance of 8th grade students who have been followed since entering kindergarten. The report provides information about achievement in reading, mathematics, and science; reading and mathematics proficiencies; participation in activities; time spent on homework; and educational aspirations.

This publication provides projections for key education statistics. It includes statistics on enrollment, graduates, teachers, and expenditures in elementary and secondary schools, and enrollment and earned degrees conferred expenditures of degree-granting institutions.

Michael Ceballos, Qwest state president in Wyoming, has joined the Board of Directors of McREL. Ceballos has worked for Qwest for 28 years, managing and overseeing a variety of programs in marketing, equal opportunity employment, public policy, and quality management in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming.

Dr. Jeffrey R. Williams, director of access and urban outreach in the Office of Enrollment Management at the University of Missouri-Columbia, has joined the Board of Directors of McREL. Williams, who oversees initiatives that target underrepresented students and broaden access to higher education, is also an American and African American literary scholar and previously taught at the University of Missouri, the University of Memphis, and Central Missouri State University.

Deborah L. Backus, chief academic officer for Jefferson County Public Schools in Golden, Colo., has joined the Board of Directors of McREL. Backus has over 30 years of experience in education, including previous positions as teacher, assistant principal, principal, administrative trainer, and assistant superintendent.

McREL announces the addition of Ted J. Adams, superintendent of Laramie County School District 1 in Cheyenne, Wyo., to its Board of Directors. Adams has held a number of administrative positions including principal, university instructor, assistant superintendent, and superintendent for schools and districts in Wyoming, Indiana, Arizona, Oregon, Utah, and New York.