A study prepared for the Maryland General Assembly shows that each additional $1,000 of state funding per student since 2002 translates into a corresponding, significant increase in pass rates in reading and math.

Of the more than 1200 teachers who completed the survey, 38% said they had been the target of non-physical violence such as verbal abuse, harassment or threats from a student; 25% said they had received similar treatment from a parent; 24% said they had been physically attacked by a student. 

The Ontario 2008 Auditor General's report highlights a number of problems with special education. For example, most of the ministry funding for special education goes to the boards based on enrolment, but is not directly targeted to the students. So, even though funding grew by 54% between 2001/2002 and 2007/2008, the number of students served grew by only 5%. 

Researchers find that girls in the U.S. have reached parity with boys in math performance; among the mathematically talented, the gender gap is narrowing in the U.S. and is not evident among some ethnic groups; there are females who possess profound mathematical talent. These findings point to socio-cultural factors impacting math performance rather than any innate biological differences.

New figures reveal nearly half of all bullying is taking place online. Students feel isolated in addition to feeling frightened and victimized. There is also strong concern over the number of students contemplating suicide or self-harm.

Examines classroom strategies and best practices that can be used in the primary grades to help young students succeed at math.

The updates include charts and tables on elementary and secondary education as well as early years and school readiness. In addition, the table titled, “Public and private expenditure on education,” shows that amongst all the provinces, BC had the highest percentage of households incurring education expenditures in 2007.  

Researchers found that NCLB is not working for a number of reasons including,

1. it has not improved student achievement;
2. high numbers of schools are being mislabeled as 'failing' - far beyond the capability of states to effectively intervene; and
3. the NCLB law does not connect meaningfully with educators who must implement it. Teachers don't see the accountability goals as realistic and they believe the sanctions are misguided and counterproductive.

Overall, researchers of this project found that NCLB is doing significant damage to the education system.

On the economic crisis, Mackenzie says, "In short, the conservative ideas that got us into this mess -- ideas that created the steady drift towards greater inequality, that celebrated greed and excess and denigrated hard work and moderation, that celebrated the deterioration in the bargaining power of employees relative to their employers, that ripped up the regulations that restricted corporate behaviour, that conned us into a trade-off of public services for tax cuts that mostly benefited a small minority at the top of the income and wealth scale – have been exposed for the servants of privilege that they are."

See also Exposed: Revealing Truths About Canada's Recession by CCPA Senior Economist Armine Yalnizyan. The study examines Canada's previous 13 economic downturns and discovers two troubling signs: no other recession since the Great Depression has come on this strong; and Canadians face greater vulnerability than at any time since the 1940s because of low savings, high household debt and a weakened social safety net.

This very thorough and comprehensive survey of U.S. teachers finds that a majority of teachers (62%) are very satisfied with their careers. However areas of concern among educators include teacher recruitment and retention, student dropout rates, standardized tests, parental support, poverty and poor nutrition. Today, less than half the teachers surveyed were in favour of standardized tests compared to 61% in 1984.

The study finds that the California High School Exit Exam has lowered the graduation rates of 'at-risk' students of colour and of girls by 15-20 percentage points.

Furthermore, the study found that the exam policy had no positive student achievement effects overall.

This research brief reports that nearly one-half of children in immigrant families live in poverty when basic living and child care costs are taken into account.

This article recently won a distinguished achievement award from the Association of Educational Publishers. It provides up-to-date knowledge, research, classroom techniques, and training information for teachers dealing with bullying.

Practical suggestions and models of anti-bullying programs make this a very useful article.

The legacy materials which can be accessed at www.Forum2008.cmec.ca cover literacy resources from early learning throughout the school years into adulthood.

Of particular interest are the forum presentations, including the one by Dr. Avis Glaze, Results without Rancour or Ranking.

Although this study is about university students, the trends likely to apply to high schools students as well. The study found that "working among post-secondary students has increased to historically high levels and is harming the academic success of some students."

Kristof discusses a new book on the topic of I.Q. by Richard Nisbett, as well as research on this same subject by University of Virginia professor Eric Turkheimer. Both the book and the study point to variability in I.Q. related to the degree of wealth or poverty in households.

Nisbett not only shows us how I.Q. can be improved, but he also addresses the issues of poverty and inequality in America.  

Turkheimer notes that "when poor children are adopted into upper-middle-class households, their IQ's rise by 12 to 18 points," leading him to declare, "Bad environments suppress children's I.Q.s."

Well-known education researcher Gene Glass notes that virtual education is becoming increasingly widespread in public education. In this policy brief he discusses concerns about the benefits of full-time schools as well as issues of cost, accreditation, evaluation and the increased commercialization of schooling.

This recent study from John Hopkins University evaluates the impact of privatization of education services in the Philadelphia area. The sample consists of 89 middle schools and covers 10 years.

Researchers found that by 2006, "the achievement growth rate of schools run by educational management organizations (EMOs) had fallen significantly below the growth rate of district-run schools in both reading and mathematics, whereas, in 2002, immediately prior to privatization, those schools later run by EMOs had achieved growth rates significantly higher than the rest of the district in reading and statistically equivalent in mathematics."

This UK survey found that 96% of education staff feel there should be a maximum number of pupils for primary and secondary classes. 80% of teachers surveyed said that the numbers of students in their class affects their own stress levels.

The 2009 OECD Factbook includes more than 160 major indicators. This year's focus in on inequality with coverage of such topics as equity of access to health and education; differences in economic performance between regions; and the extent to which government benefits and taxes reduce poverty.

Almost three-quarters of teachers surveyed (73%), said that children are under more pressure now than a decade earlier, citing testing and family break-ups as causes for most of the distress. In fact, 89% of teachers listed testing and exams as major contributors to children's stress, while 68% listed family break-up.

Note: Since the entire report is 6mb (64 pages), I have just included a link to the media release.

In this 4th BC adolescent health survey, the good news is that tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol use are down among teens. Rates of suicide attempts are also down.

The bad news is rates of physical abuse are up, and rates of sexual abuse have not declined.

View full-text

In a report that touts the benefits of public spending, CCPA researchers point out that "middle-income Canadian families enjoy public services worth about $41,000 - or 63% of their income."

MacKenzie warns that while tax cuts are made to sound like free money, we're actually better off with the services our taxes fund rather than tax cuts.

On a similar theme, from the U.S.,  Knowledge@Wharton quotes former deputy assistant Treasury secretary Kent Smetters as saying "most Americans should not be worrying about having to pay higher taxes."

Smetters reasoning however is far more pessimistic. He claims that the present value shortfall of Medicare and the U.S. social security system combined is between 80 and 120 trillion dollars. To provide a sense of the magnitude of this number, Smetters says if you were to take the total value of all non-perishables in the U.S. including land, houses, cars, etc. it would amount to about 50 trillion dollars.

This research brief from the Council looks primarily at depression among youth - its prevalence and impact on education.

This policy brief reviews the research on school restructuring that has occurred as a result of a school not having met adequate yearly progress targets in accordance with NCLB, and furthermore, provides some recommendations in the form of alternatives to forced restructuring.

Schools deemed in need of improvement are currently forced to turn operations over to the state or to a private company; reopen as a charter school; or restructure by replacing some or all of the teachers and other school staff.

An increasing number of state programs now provide financial support in the forms of scholarships, tuition assistance, tax credits, and tax deductions, for children to attend private schools.

At the end of 2008, 24 such programs were in place in 14 states and the District of Columbia, compared with 22 programs in 13 states and the District from the previous year, and 7 programs from 7 states in 1997.

In addition to documenting the range of initiatives Manitoba has undertaken to address challenges faced by rural schools, this report also provides a survey of rural school initiatives implemented by Canadian ministries of education in the areas of teaching and learning, infrastructure, educational finance and inter-jurisdictional collaboration.

Provides at-a-glance figures on the fiscal cost of the failure to complete high school in terms of social services, education, employment, criminality, health, and the economy. When taken together, these add up to a staggering cost both to the individual and society.

You may also wish to view a companion article by CCL called, No "drop" in the bucket: the high costs of dropping out. This article focuses on strategies used in various provinces that promote success among high school students.

Berliner argues that schools are told to fix problems that lie outside their area of influence, yet the real culprit in terms of the achievement gap is poverty and other out of school factors.

Science Daily summarizes the results of a study by Sarah and Chris Lubienski and Corinna Crane. The study, "Achievement Differences and School Type: The Role of School Climate, Teacher Certification, and Instruction” was published in the November 2008 issue of the American Journal of Education.

Lubienski said, "According to our results, schools that hired more certified teachers and had a curriculum that de-emphasized learning by rote tended to do better on standardized math tests,” “And public schools had more of both.”

British university researchers found that girls who are bullied at the age of six are more than twice as likely still to be victims at he age of ten than boys of the same age.

Several reports from Britain including one from the Chair of the National Inquiry into the Mental Health of Young People, express deep concern about a higher incidence of mental health problems among youth, particularly among students with special needs. The economic recession, it is feared, could make things much worse.

Study finds that abuse during childhood can permanently alter the genetic structure within the brain, specifically it causes changes to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system.

The annual UNESCO report evaluates progress towards key education goals, including early childhood development, universal primary education, gender equality, literacy and education quality in general. While there have been gains in some of the poorest countries, unless there is prompt sustained action, many of the 2015 "education for all" targets will not be met.

"In a study recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, scientists at UC Berkeley's Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and the School of Public Health report that normal 9- and 10-year-olds differing only in socioeconomic status have detectable differences in the response of their prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that is critical for problem solving and creativity."

Examines what membership and density trends and patterns indicate about union renewal and the overall health of the labour movement in Canada. Some excellent charts appear at the end which paint a very interesting picture of the trends.

Title Page and Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Chapter 1:International Student Achievement in Science
Grade 4 and grade 8 students in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec had scores that were significantly higher than the TIMSS scale average for science achievement. See charts from Chapter 1.

*Note: Full-text is close to 500 pages and 78MB, so here are the links for title page, table of contents, Executive Summary, and Chapter 1:International Student Achievement in Mathematics

According to the latest TIMSS results, 4th grade and 8th grade students in Ontario and B.C. showed either "above average" or "significantly above average" achievement in mathematics when benchmarked against other countries and jurisdictions.

In undertaking research for his PhD, education scholar David Christopher Charles, uses both quantitative and qualitative research methods – specifically, surveys and interviews, to gather information on the perceptions and experiences of Jefferson Parish (Louisiana) teachers regarding the effects of high-stakes testing. In particular, he examines and analyzes the effects that LEAP21 (Louisiana Educational Assessment Program) tests have had on teachers’ classroom practices, the increased pressure on teachers resulting from the tests, and younger teachers’ waning commitment to the profession as a result of test fatigue. LEAP21 is a state test given to students in Grade 4 and Grade 8.

Teachers who were interviewed by Charles reported that emphasis on the LEAP test had resulted in drastic changes to the curriculum. They reported feeling compelled to ensure that the curriculum included most of the test content, which in turn resulted in the omission of subjects that would otherwise have been covered. They further remarked that they were forced to focus more on breadth rather than depth of the material, as well as having to adjust the sequence of lesson plans. Some teachers claimed the implementation of the test even changed how they taught.

In terms of pressure, teachers felt that valuable class time was being encroached upon by the LEAP tests and that their planning time was taken up with staff meetings concerning testing strategies, discussions with administrators regarding the tests, and individual and group training on testing, etc.

Additionally, the teacher interviewees expressed general frustration with how the school’s scores were calculated from the test results. For example, they felt it was unfair that students coming from disadvantaged situations were counted against the school’s score. They also commented on the inequity of having the fourth grade in one school year held to the same standard as the fourth grade in the previous school year even though the two classes may have had entirely different capabilities. One of the key sources of their frustration however, was being compared with teachers of students from higher socioeconomic communities. The teacher respondents expressed their dissatisfaction with being held accountable for students’ low scores when these scores were primarily the result of other factors.

The teachers in the study confessed they felt a loss of autonomy and experienced shame and embarrassment if their students scored low or failed. They spoke of being dismayed by instructional mandates because it meant they were unable to use their professional judgment and experience to design individualized instruction.

The teachers interviewed expressed the viewpoint that the actual testing policies put into place seemed to be in contradiction to the very goals they were designed to accomplish, leading to unintended negative consequences in terms of classroom practices, pressure on teachers and students, and level of commitment to the education profession.

Towards the end of his dissertation, Charles points out that these tests have been given an enormous amount of influence in the educational system by policy-makers despite the lack of studies showing any benefit, and despite the perceptions and experiences of those closest to the situation who witness the daily effects of the testing policy.

This study, as the author points out, reinforces “previous studies (Amrein & Berliner, 2002; Kohn, 2000; Pedulla et al., 2003; and Wright, 2002) that have produced results whichshow side effects to high stakes testing that teachers believe are detrimental to their students.”

This study is based on a public opinion poll of 680 adults across Ontario regarding their views on inclusive education. Policy implications are discussed.

According to CCPA, British Columbia has the dubious distinction of being home to the highest rate of the nation's poor. Over half a million British Columbians live in poverty, with children making up a quarter of this number.

According to the latest UNICEF report on early childhood care and education, Canada is at the bottom of the list of the 25 economically advanced countries in the study. We met only 1 benchmark while Sweden which topped the list, met all 10 benchmarks.

The authors of this study explore the professional knowledge base of learning disabilities in Canada by examining the pre-service training of teachers and psychologists within the school system as well as policies that guide their work. Particular attention is paid to assessment practices and accommodations for students with learning disabilities.

Senior economist Armine Yalnizyan says, "The Government of Canada must ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable citizens don't lose their right to shelter, food, health and education in order to balance the books."

As part of an international report released on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Canadian chapter addresses income inequality in Canada and how this gap can be ameliorated through budgetary measures.

Researchers examined the long-term effects of a universal intervention in Seattle elementary schools that included teacher training in classroom instruction and management, child social and emotional skill development, and parent workshops.

They found that 15 years after the intervention, the adults who had participated as children had significantly better educational and economic attainment, mental health and sexual health.

Multiple Pathways is a proposed reform based on 3 tenets -

• Learning both academic and technical knowledge is enhanced when the two are combined and contextualized  in real-world situations;
• Connecting academics to such real-world contexts promotes student interest and engagement; and
• Students provided with both academic and career education are more likely to be able to later choose from the full range of postsecondary options.
  

Experts develop strategies for teacher training and professional development in Response to Intervention
NEA Press Release, November 24, 2008

See also: RTI Action Network

RTI - Response to Intervention is a tiered approach to early identification and support of students with learning and behaviour needs. NEA and the RTI Action Network, recently hosted a symposium to prepare educators in using the RTI model. A report on the symposium will be available later this month.

CUPE researcher John Malcolmson reports on the results of a survey administered by CUPE that sought to evaluate the working conditions of the province's education assistants.

From the responses of approximately 4,000 education assistants around the province, it became clear that many were putting in extra hours of unpaid work because their paid allocation was less than what they felt was necessary to support student health and safety.

A summary of education research from the CEA web site and Bulletin, the year-end review includes research on topics such as Aboriginal Education, Accountability, Inclusion and Equity, Social Impacts and Outcomes of Education, among others.

The first report, "concentrates on major reforms and innovations in the education systems, as well as the main policies and achievements in access to education, early intervention, learning outcomes, teacher training, and the role of education in combating social exclusion and poverty."

The second report, "relates directly to theme of the conference – inclusive education, which is defined as an approach that looks into how to transform education systems and other learning environments in order to respond to the diversity of learners."

See especially, page 29 of the first report, for a discussion of teacher working conditions including class size and workload.

Kaser and Halbert argue that in order to engage adolescent learners, we need to move from a sorting system to a learning system. The four major shifts they identify are:

• From a focus on instruction and teaching to a focus on deeper forms of learning;
• From summative assessment to formative assessment
• From teaching in isolation to teaching in teams
• From "managing the school" to distributed leadership and reflective inquiry
  

This study supports previous research showing that children's academic knowledge and skill at the time they begin school contributes to higher levels of learning in the early grades.

This 16-page presentation summarizes poverty reduction efforts in Canada and abroad, poverty trends (including a widening income gap), action on poverty within health sectors, and what is necessary for advocates in moving forward with the goal of reducing poverty.

CCPA calls on major public and private sector employers to pay a living wage that would allow low-income families to afford the basic necessities. The authors calculate that each parent would need to work full-time at an hourly wage of $16.74 in Metro Vancouver in order to pay for necessities and participate in the social and civil life of their communities.

Published in the journal Pediatrics, the research covers 3 longitudinal studies from the U.S. and Japan, examining the video game content, how often the games were played and what types of behaviours occurred later in the school year.

The study from the U.S. involved 364 children ages 9 to 12 and was documented in a 2007 book, "Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents."

Psychology professor and head researcher Craig A. Anderson said, "We now have conclusive evidence that playing violent video games has harmful effects on children and adolescents."

While adults may worry about children wasting time online or playing video games, researchers of this 3-year study (said to be the most extensive study on youth media use in the U.S.), say that youth are engaging in peer-based, self-directed learning. The digital world, they claim, allows young people the opportunity to explore interests, develop technical skills, grapple with social norms, and experiment with new forms of self-expression.

Britain's Standing Committee for the Education and Training of Teachers surveyed primary and secondary teachers in the U.K. on their views about teacher professionalism. Nine out of ten felt teachers want to be recognized as professionals yet seven out of ten thought the status of teachers was diminishing.

Refer to the actual survey results for more information.

This brief which reviews the research on short and long-term effects of preschool education on young children's learning and development, finds that such programs produce many improvements including higher achievement scores, lower rates of grade repetition, and higher educational attainment. Some programs also showed a correlation with reduced delinquency and crime in childhood and adulthood.

The strongest evidence pointed to benefits reaped by economically disadvantaged children. However, children from all other socioeconomic backgrounds also benefited form preschool programs.

The full report consists of 5 volumes - Vol. 1 - Findings, Analysis and Conclusions; Vol. 2 - Executive Summary; Vol. 3 - Community Perspectives Report; Vol. 4 - Research Papers; and Vol. 5 - Literature Reviews.

The report was commissioned by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty in the aftermath of a fatal shooting of a high school student at school.

Those charged with the task of undertaking a review of youth violence in the province, express serious concerns about trends towards an increasing concentration of violent crime. They suggest that racism and poverty are at the core of much of this deeply troubling violence.

A concise synopsis of the current landscape of teachers on call throughout Canada. The contributions of various Canadian teacher unions are mentioned in terms of training and providing support.

Lucio Baccaro
Labour, Globalization and Inequality: Are Trade Unions Still Redistributive?
IILS; 2008, 81 pages

The author engages in an econometric analysis in order to ascertain the extent to which union density has declined and centralized bargaining structures have been eroded in many countries worldwide and how these factors have in turn led to rising within-country inequality.

Naren Prasad
Policies for Redistribution: The Use of Taxes and Social Transfers
IILS; 2008, 42 pages

Discusses trends in the composition and levels of social transfers and taxes for developed countries, economies in transition and developing countries. Prasad also examines the extent to which taxes and social transfers are effective in redistributing income.

Uma Rani
Impact of Changing Work Patterns on Income Inequality
IILS; 2008, 46 pages

Assesses the extent to which changes in employment patterns are associated with rising income inequality. Examines various types on non-standard employment including part-time, temporary, and self-employment.

GURN has redesigned their web site for easier search and navigation. They have also added "Public-Private Partnership" as one of their important research topics. Here you will find useful information, analyses and current debates, aimed at helping teacher unions and researchers gain a critical understanding of PPPs.

Other topics include "wages and collective bargaining," "poverty reduction strategy papers," and "economic alternatives and poverty eradication."

A keynote address by former Mayor of Winnipeg Glen Murray, and a panel discussion with participants from OISE, People for Education, CEA, etc. are available to download as podcasts. The discussion focuses on the role of schools in preparing students to be citizens in tomorrow's world.

Researcher Marc Frenette estimates the effect of an additional year of schooling (Grade 10) on academic performance. His findings suggest that an additional year of high school (Grade 10) is associated with a large improvement in overall reading and mathematics performance, and a smaller improvement in science performance. The improvements were greater for boys and lower-income youth than for girls and higher-income youth.

In order to explore what types of learning experiences - academic, social, and emotional - young people need today, CEA assembled a working group of people from various sectors. CEA researcher Penny Milton notes that it is time to rethink youth learning experiences in light of the impacts of globalization, technology, immigration and migration.

A report on Aboriginal child health and social development focusing on Inuit, Metis and off-reserve First Nations children under the age of 6.

Researchers compiled data, including cross-cultural comparisons, on young people's aptitude for mathematics. They found that there were many girls who possessed extremely high aptitude for mathematics but, whether or not they were identified as having such profound mathematical ability, depended on a variety of socio-cultural, educational, and environmental factors. The authors recommend identifying and supporting girls with exceptional mathematical ability.

OECD states that the gap between rich and poor has grown in more than three-quarters of OECD countries over the past two decades. Low skill levels and lack of education are driving income inequality. While those around retirement age have seen an increase in income over the last 20 years, child poverty has increased to the point that children and young adults are now 25% more likely to be poor than the population as a whole.

Canada's level of inequality has been widening and is now above the OECD average. It was noted that Germany was the only other country showing such a widening inequality in household earnings. Furthermore, Canada spends less than other OECD countries on unemployment and family benefits resulting in less distribution of wealth.

This report examines the progress made towards the "education for all" goal. The six major areas comprising the framework of the report are early childhood education and care; universal primary education; the learning needs of young people and adults; adult literacy; gender equity; and the quality of education.

In what GLSEN calls "the most comprehensive report ever" about LGBT students' experience in U.S. middle and high schools - a survey of more than 6200 students - researchers found that 86% reported being harassed at school during the past year. The majority of LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school. Schools that employed policies and programs such as Gay Straight Alliance groups, observed less harassment of LGBT students.

The authors set out to identify factors at the school, district, and provincial level, that influence school administrators' responses to large-scale assessment.

While the research focuses primarily on Ontario, it is useful to see how elementary and secondary administrators feel about large-scale assessment in general and how they are using the results.

One high-stakes test will determine who will gain admission into one of eight specialized public high schools in New York. Twenty-five thousand students will take the exam, but less than 20% will gain admission.

Economist Joshua Feinman and his wife are both graduates of one of these schools, yet as the author of this study, he finds evidence that the admissions process may not produce equitable or valid results. In addition to everything being based on one single criterion - the test - he notes that the scoring gives an advantage to students whose families can afford costly test preparation tutoring.

Researchers Jaafar and Earl use a new conceptual framework to describe the various performance-based accountability models across Canada. Using a Canada-wide comparison, the researchers were able to observe 3 different kinds of performance-based accountability models at work.

The broader implication of their work is to provide a framework for other researchers to discover and expose policy similarities and differences within various jurisdictions, including international.

In this study, Li compares elementary education funding in Ontario and Alberta, in terms of educational equity for disadvantaged students. He finds that "Ontario has made stronger vertical equity efforts" than Alberta.

CTF researcher Bernie Froese-Germain discusses emerging research on cyberbullying in schools. He provides a good overview with numerous examples and also points out why cyberbullying is such a pernicious form of school violence.

Report by Human Rights Watch on corporal punishment of children in the U.S. Finds that boys are paddled far more than girls, and that African-American and Native American students were more than twice as likely to be paddled.

According to this article, most of the research in this area indicates that self-contained, rather than rotating classes are better for younger children; achievement is higher in the "self-contained" classes.

A concise yet useful list of organizing tips is provided towards the end of the article. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary, integrated curriculum.

Discusses the results of recent research on ESL students in B.C. with the aim of supporting struggling ESL students. Researchers point out that there is a need to disaggregate the data on ESL as the big picture does not explain the needs of ESL sub-groups.

This report looks at the role of education in closing the literacy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

Examines the education outcomes of children of Canadian immigrants, focusing specifically on intergenerational education mobility (how is it different among immigrants and their children); what factors are most closely related to education outcomes of second generation Canadians; and how has the relationship between education of immigrant parents and Canadian-born children changed over time.

An interesting article about how technological advances such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) allows researchers to observe the brain while subjects are solving problems, reading, etc. This in turn, has given rise to studies that examine the complex interrelationship between brain processes and environmental factors in childhood development.

With support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this particular research project examines the prevalence of chronic absence in grades K-3; the consequences of such absence; the likely or potential contributing factors; and what steps may be taken to help resolve the issue.

CTF asks federal party leaders where they stand on issues related to child poverty; environment; technology; tax deductions for professional expenses; early childhood education and care; minority children; healthy schools; domestic violence; copyright and international trade agreements; and Canada's overseas assistance.

Author Alex Molnar notes that now, more so than ever, "advertising is entwined with content and often demands the active engagement of its targeted audience."

Co-author Faith Boninger points out that while children may ignore or dismiss a marketing message, the advertising environment as a whole "creates a materialistic atmosphere that encourages more buying, more identification with brands, and more commercialized values." Molnar claims that research shows higher materialistic values are related to lower self-esteem, chronic physical symptoms, and higher rates of psychological distress.

For a quick synopsis of the report, read Nanette Asimov's article, "Schools fail to meet No Child Left Behind Goals," in the San Francisco Chronicle.

She points out that far more U.S. schools are now entering the required restructuring phase, which by itself has not lead to improvement and in many cases has ended in schools having to shut down and re-open as charters.

While KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) schools have posted significant achievement gains in the middle grades, student attrition is high and it is the lower-performing students that leave most often. For example, of a 5th grade cohort in San Francisco in 2003-04, 60% had left before the end of the 8th grade.

Researchers at the UT Dallas, Center for BrainHealth "used cognitive neuroscience findings to create a program called SMART - for Strategic Memory and Reasoning Training - to teach teens how to think critically and effectively use the information they learn."

Improvement was seen in the reasoning skills of 98 per cent of the youth. It is hoped that a web-based training program can be made available for students, teachers, and parents.

OECD's Education at a Glance is the quintessential global education almanac covering almost every imaginable indicator. Significant focus is given to the learning environment and organization of schools, educational performance, education spending, how educational resources are allocated including public and private investment in education, teacher salaries, and the economic benefits of education in general. Canada's standing in comparison to other countries is nicely laid out in easy-to-read charts.

For a quick synopses of the major findings, simply read the 4-page "Highlights."

This latest OECD read-only publication looks at the impact on education of global trends such as aging societies, fewer children, affluence and poverty divisions, environmental challenges, the changing workplace, the digital revolution, the new economic landscape, and more.

Information Services has ordered a print copy for our collection.

Reports on the change in unionization rates from 2007 to 2008, the differences between the provinces, gender differences, and differences between unionized and non-unionized employees. Also includes a table on wage settlements, inflation, and labour disputes.

In this article, Welner describes how tuition tax credits for private schools are actually vouchers in disguise. Beginning with a taxpayer donation to a private, non-profit organization, the money is then forwarded to parents in the form of tuition vouchers, while the taxpayer receives some or all of the donation back in the form of a tax credit. This is what Welner refers to as "neovouchers." He estimates that approximately 100,000 students are receiving this type of voucher as opposed to traditional ones.

Welner has a new book coming out called, "NeoVouchers: The Emergence of Tuition Tax Credits for Private Schooling," published by Rowman & Littlefield.

While advocates of Massachusetts' school choice law touted it as a means towards making choice available to lower-income families as well as spurring reform through competition, the author of this report notes the effect has been opposite. Dillon claims that "more affluent students and more affluent districts seem to have benefited the most."

She explains why this happens and how it has left some districts in dire straits.

Interviews with more than 2,000 college-educated adults revealed that many would be interested in teaching (42%) but almost half of those interested said that ensuring adequate salaries that are competitive with other professions would be the most important element in making that decision.

Woodrow Wilson senior fellow David Haselkorn says that "raising starting pay is the single most important step states and districts could take to increase the attractiveness of teaching for career changers." However, he also commented that money alone was not the answer; that teachers also want better working conditions, quality preparation programs offering classroom experience, and ongoing support as practicing teachers.

The authors address the issue of education policies in B.C., particularly over the last 7 years. Demographic changes, increase in teacher retirements, increase in the working age of teachers, increased student diversity, and an increased emphasis on standards and accountability systems, have all combined to create pressure on teachers in BC to continually learn and adapt.

What is needed, the authors argue, is the building of capacities to foster student learning through endeavours such as in-school professional learning communities.

Examines policy initiatives around Aboriginal education reform and subsequently discusses the paradox of standardized provincial assessments, teacher education to support Aboriginal self-determination, and the meaningful engagement of Aboriginal communities.

Provides an excellent historical discussion and good contextual information in terms of statistics and demographics.

Examines the quality of life of aboriginal children using indicators and cultural issues as a lens. The author spends considerable space discussing early childhood programs and developmental services, in addition to making comprehensive policy recommendations.

This poll conducted by Vector Research and commissioned by CTF sought the opinions of over 2500 Canadians on the topic of public education. CTF President Emily Noble says, "In 7 of the 8 public opinion polls conducted nationally since 1995, class size reduction remained at the top of the spending priority list, despite variations over time in the other priorities surveyed."

ATA has developed a workshop for teachers titled, "Increasing Student Resiliency - Releasing Diamonds from the Rough." The workshop is based on a 30-year longitudinal study titled, "Overcoming the Odds: High Risk Children from Birth to Adulthood." Researchers found that of 200 children who were considered high-risk while in school, 166 of this group actually bounced back later on and were doing quite well as adults.

In the author's words, this study "provides an account of the manner in which policy problems were posed, of the explanations constructed, of the policy directions formulated, and of the policy issues to which policy makers ultimately paid attention with enactment of Bill 34."

The authors note an increase in the number of large-scale assessment programs in Canada in recent years. Their purpose in publishing this paper was to document all the provinces and territories' large-scale assessment programs. They categorize the programs by their stated functions of accountability, gatekeeping, instructional diagnosis, and monitoring student achievement.

The Canadian Council on Learning uses an informal set of indicators in providing an overview on the state of learning in Canada. The report is divided into 4 sections covering early childhood learning, elementary and secondary education, post-secondary education, and adult learning.

The author, a research associate with the Economic Policy Institute, examines how experience with quantitative measurements in other sectors, can shed light on testing and accountability in the education sector.

A wide array of educational indicators for each province and territory is provided in this report, including enrolment, graduation rates, student-educator ratios, spending, and teacher remuneration.

The updated brief argues that high school dropouts drain the U.S. economy by lowering tax revenues and increasing the cost of social programs. High school graduates, on the other hand, make higher wages, are healthier, and live longer. They are less likely to be teen parents, commit crimes, or rely on government assistance.

After more than decade of investment in school technology, educators say they still don't feel adequately prepared to integrate instructional software into their classrooms and aren't getting the technical support they need to fully impact student achievement, according to a joint study by the two largest teacher unions in the U.S.  The report is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 public school educators.  

This report provides a composite snapshot of initial teacher education programs in Canada which collectively graduate some 18,000 teacher candidates each year.  The research is based on an overview of programs across 56 institutions and data obtained from a national survey of faculties of education, new teachers and their principals.  It examines program structures, content emphasis and usefulness, perceptions of teaching knowledge and skill, the practicum experience, and the transition into the teaching profession.

The inappropriate use of national testing could lead to damaging consequences for England's education system and for children, says a report published by an influential parliamentary committee.  It says the principle of national testing is sound, but expresses serious concerns about its importance and suggests a number of reforms.   

This report shows that the number of adults with low literacy skills is growing across the country.  By 2031, the number is forecast to increase by more than three million to 15 million.  The study offers new demographic knowledge, practical data, detailed analysis and key elements of a toolkit (PALMM) to help Canadians improve adult literacy levels (Projections of Adult Literacy - Measuring Movement). 

The long summer vacation creates a gap in the learning cycle during which many students forget some of what they learned during the school year. This article looks at a number of summer literacy programs across Canada designed to prevent or alleviate the effects of summer learning loss.

The ILO Library has updated its resource guide on Child Labour. This Internet guide will help you find key online and print sources of information from around the world and links to the texts of key ILO publications. It also provides links to ILO Conventions and Recommendations relating to child labour, statistics, and to the IPEC website for more in depth information.

A new UIS study highlights the strong effect of social inequality on primary education systems in many countries and the challenge to provide all children with equal learning opportunities.  It presents the results of a unique survey undertaken in 11 countries in Latin America, Asia and North Africa and examines the factors shaping the quality and equality of primary education. 

Two directors of the Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education have provided a discussion guide about successful Aboriginal schools in Canada. The report is based on research the authors conducted through SAEE.

A major study into the impact and potential of the Internet on English public schools in Quebec has called on educators, government and the media to shift the focus from "threat" to opportunity".  The report includes results from a survey of some 1,000 students, parents and teachers from QESBA's nine member boards as well as a review of pertinent studies and research on attitudes and impact of information technologies on youth and education.

The report, based on data from the 2006 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS), assessed the educational experiences of children aged 5 to 14 with activity limitations ranging from learning disabilities to mobility activity limitations.  Almost half of parents reported having experienced difficulty in obtaining special education for their child regardless of the type of disability or level of severity. The activity limitations that posed the greatest challenge for accommodation included emotional, behavioural, and psychological conditions such as autism.

This is the 4th annual overview of key indicators in relation to the physical activity levels of Canada’s young people. This year the focus is on screen time and physical activity. The overall grade of D on the Report Card has been consistent from 2005-2008. 

A related Statistics Canada study outlines kids' declining participation in sports (Canadian Social Trends, June 3, 2008).

Results from the first phase of this survey on homophobia and transphobia in Canadian schools reveal that over two-thirds of those students who identified as lesbian, gay, bi, trans and Two-Spirit, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) feel unsafe at school.  The first survey of its kind in Canada, it was launched in December of last year and so far has heard from over 1,200 participants from cities, small towns, rural areas, reserves, armed forces bases in every province and territory of the country.

The third in a series of reports on new teachers finds two specific areas in which teacher training may be lacking: preparedness for the diversity of the contemporary American classroom and teaching students with special needs.  First year teachers say that smaller class sizes would ameliorate both challenges.

2008 results for the Composite Learning Index (CLI), an annual measure of Canada’s progress in lifelong learning, show a slight improvement from last year. Based on statistical indicators that reflect the many ways Canadians learn, in school, at home, at work or within the community, the CLI provides numeric scores for 4,700 cities and communities across Canada.

This report offers a review of alternative education programs in BC. Three hundred thirty-nine youth attending 34 alternative education programs for "at-risk" and "high risk" youth across the province took part in the study, as did 62 adult stakeholders. The review documents the positive impact of these programs for at-risk youth, especially in communities where there is a high prevalence of youth street involvement and sexual exploitation.

Computer-based learning is on the cusp of transforming traditional public education, say researchers from Harvard Business School.  Based on their analysis of enrollments, about half of all education courses will be delivered online in just over a decade's time.  The authors offer examples where online education could fill gaps and discuss the concept of "disruptive innovation".

The effect of mobility on Aboriginal students' high-school completion rates suggests that the educational system is not currently meeting these students' needs.  An outline of best practices developed by the Australian Department of Education to support mobile Aboriginal students is provided.  These practices are deemed likely to be effective in Canadian contexts. 

A recent report from People for Education highlights trends in Ontario, and across Canada, towards declining school enrolment and suggests that new strategies are needed to address the issue. The report also lists changes in enrolments for Ontario school boards and identifies districts where school closures are under consideration.

Researchers from York University in Toronto and Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, interviewed 871 Canadian children each year from ages 10 to 18.  They found that students who bully their classmates also tend to have lots of conflicts with parents, friends, and others.  Dr. Pepler sais that instead of focusing on bullies’ problematic social skills, educators and counselors should broaden their efforts to address all the unhealthy relationships in the lives of young bullies.

The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) released their first report from the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP) on the evaluation of 13-year-old students across Canada in Reading, Mathematics, and Science. Results gathered in this report indicate that most students across Canada are reading at and above the expected level of performance for their age group.

Findings from a national phone survey of youth ages 12-17 and their parents, plus 8 focus groups exploring teens’ attitudes about writing, especially in the context of all the electronic stuff they do (e.g. emails, SNS posts, texting, IMing, etc). 

Teens write a lot, but they do not think of their electronic communications as writing. This disconnect matters because teens believe good writing is an essential skill for success and that more writing instruction at school would help them.

According to this CPRN study, Canada's youth are not well-prepared to navigate educational and career choices, or to be able to fully use the skills and knowledge they gain through education in the jobs that they find.

This publication is the World Bank's premier annual compilation of data about development. The 2008 WDI includes more than 800 indicators in over 80 tables organized in 6 sections: World View, People (including Education statistics), Environment, Economy, States and Markets, and Global Links.  Links to front matter, introductions to each section, and back matter are available from the above link. 

Fewer BC students are smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol and having sex, and the use of marijuana has levelled off, the provincial health officer says in a just released report.  It centres on how schools and the health of young British Columbians have changed since his last report in 2003.  But there are negative trends as well, Dr. Perry Kendall said, noting growing incidences of obesity, cyberbullying, sexually transmitted diseases and anxiety disorders.

Kendall makes 12 recommendations for improvement, including better use of data, development of a Grade 12 health course, increased support for at-risk students, more attention to early learning, expanded smoke-free environments and more help for those with mental health issues.

Making use of data from the Labour Force and Youth in Transition surveys, this study investigates the phenomenon of returning to high school after having dropped out, with results separated by gender.  It found that a significant number of dropouts take advantage of the "second chance" system that offers them another opportunity to get their diploma. 

This is the report of the Byron Review convened last September by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to provide an independent review of the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the Internet and in video games.  Dr. Byron recommends a comprehensive action plan for Government, industry and families to work together to support children’s safety online and to reduce access to adult video games.

The Byron Review web page includes further details including an executive summary, press release, and additional documents.

Bullying in schools is a prominent issue that is receiving widespread media attention across Canada.  This article examines some of the deleterious effects that bullying has on schools as safe learning environments.

This is a collection of 10 policy briefs on specific topics under the umbrella of school choice,  presenting a comprehensive overview of the best current knowledge of these important policies.  The series examines choice in its various forms: charter schools, home schooling, virtual schools, voucher plans, tuition tax credit plans, magnet schools, etc.

Competitive environments can disrupt children's ability to form social relationships, which in turn may hurt their academic potential, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.  Students competing for resources in the classroom while discounting each others' success are less likely to earn top grades than students who work together toward goals and share their success, according to an analysis of 80 years of research.

Using data from Tennessee's four-year class size reduction study (Project STAR), author Spyros Konstantopoulos argues that though all students benefited from being in smaller classes, reduced class size did not reduce the achievement gap between higher- and lower-achieving students. Moreover, analysis of the START data indicates that higher-achieving students benefited more from the initiative than did lower-achieving students.

A new report provides a detailed analysis of trends in teacher pay in the U.S.  The latest data shows the pay gap widening between public school teachers & other professionals that require similar education and skills.

This article examines the implementation of two key North American education reform movements of the recent years: inclusion, and large-scale assessment. The author analyzes how the large-scale assessment movement has incorporated inclusive practices, and presents existing examples that attempt to facilitate inclusive processes in large-scale assessment practices.

A study by epidemiologist Tracie Barnett found that one-third of Canadian teens spend the equivalent of a full-time job, about 40 hours a week, in front of a television or computer.  Most health experts agree that 2 hours of screen time a day (or 14 hours a week) is a good maximum benchmark.  Viewing more has been associated with an increased risk of becoming overweight or obese.  

These results were presented at a recent meeting of the American Heart Association. 

A research study by cognitive neuroscientists from seven leading universities across the United States. Proceeding on findings that people with arts training often do better in school, the researchers were attempting to uncover whether "smart people drawn to the arts or does arts training make people smarter". 

The report focuses on the effects of music, dance, and drama education on other types of learning.  Among the core findings was that children motivated in the arts develop attention skills and strategies for memory retrieval that also apply to other subject areas.

This report provides information on the education profile of the Canadian population. Results from the 2006 Census show that young Canadians, especially, are better educated than older generations, but that fewer young Canadians are obtaining trades certificates. The report also includes an analysis of subject areas that were studied for the population with trades school, college, or university credentials. For the first time, the census also provides information on where (in which province or country) Canadians attained their highest level of educational attainment.

More women are working than ever before, but they are also more likely than men to get low-productivity, low-paid and vulnerable jobs, with no social protection, basic rights nor voice at work according to a new report by the ILO issued for International Women’s Day.

This special issue of Horizons was a joint collaboration between the Government of Canada's Policy Research Initiative and Analysis Directorate at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.  It focuses on the latest research and and analysis to highlight emerging trends, challenges and opportunities related to the rapidly growing population of aboriginal youth within an aging and changing Canada.

The DESA Statistics Division of the United Nations has just launched a new internet-based data service for the global user community, bringing sixty years of UN statistical databases within easy reach of users through a single entry point.  Coverage includes education, population, and employment figures amongst many other key data indicators.

Findings from an Ipsos Reid study are dispelling the myth of today’s teen as an Internet-savvy, constantly-wired early adopter.  Contrary to popular belief, teens are not online as much as they are stereotyped to be, the time they do spend on the Internet is focused rather narrowly on particular types of websites and activities, and their comfort level with technology is actually much lower than adults.

A new Frontier backgrounder questions the practice of fully integrating computers into classroom instruction in public schools, especially for early grades.  The report notes that recent research studies show that increased access to computers does not necessarily lead to higher academic achievement.

Who leaves teaching, why they leave, and the costs associated with their departures from the profession and from their schools are explored in a new brief from the Alliance for Excellent Education.

Differences in student achievement persist and are linked to a number of student characteristics. This article focuses on the most recent PISA results regarding science achievement of Canadian 15 year-olds and their background characteristics - including gender differences, minority-language school systems, immigrant and non-immigrant youth, student engagement, level of parental education, and socioeconomic status.   

This policy brief concludes that "high-quality preschool education that includes an emphasis on children’s social development can reduce rates of challenging behaviors and serve as a long-term protective factor for children at risk for developing challenging behaviors."

The aim of this paper is to examine educational inequalities among immigrants in eight high immigration countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA. Results indicate that for almost all countries immigrants’ educational dispersion is considerably higher than for natives.

The national study found a wide variance in the amount of required homework between students and across grades. Noting that while there is evidence that homework improves student achievement in the later elementary grades, this evidential basis is lacking for the earlier years, leading the study authors to advocate against homework until grades seven or eight.

Research on parental participation in homework activities provides lessons on how parents can alleviate the stressful aspects of homework while still providing support for their children’s homework routines.

New research on school violence, sexual harassment and bullying conducted at 23 schools in Southwestern Ontario.  Among the findings of the survey was that 16 percent of girls and 32 percent of boys reported being physically harmed (on or off school property), while ten percent of girls and 25 percent of boys admit to being the perpetrators of such violence.

Online learning resources for parents, educators and others who are interested in addressing the issue of bullying more effectively in their homes, schools and communities.  Created by Bill Belsey, creator of www.bullying.org, the world's most-visited Web site about bullying.

This report recommends that teacher-evaluation systems should assess both the quality of teacher instruction and student achievement, and should select evaluators who specialize in the grade level of subject area of the teacher they are evaluating. 

Recent developments in literacy teaching have tended to focus on the technical aspects of reading. However, studies continue to highlight the importance of the affective aspects of reading, such as motivation and attitudes, and the reader self-concept.

This study of over 1,600 UK pupils explored young people’s perceptions of themselves as readers and aimed to challenge assumptions of what it means to be a reader.

This policy brief analyzes factors related to the implementation of effective parental involvement with English Language Learners (ELLs). It analyzes characteristics of the ELL student and parent population; barriers to ELL family engagement with schools; and characteristics of traditional and non-traditional parental involvement models.

Parents seeking information about their children's education and BC schools have a new online resource - the Parent Information Network, a joint project of the provincial government and the Virtual School Society, a non-profit that promotes virtual learning.  The network is accessible through the LearnNowBC website.  Topics include ESL, special needs, health and safety, graduation requirements and choice in the public school system. 

A new paper argues that “system-level reforms”—such as standards and accountability, and choice and charter schooling—are not enough to bring about dramatic gains in student learning.  The report suggests that efforts to improve K-12 education need to break away from conventional forms of schooling with new models, and should place a heavy emphasis on efforts designed to increase student and teacher motivation.