Implementing Innovation in Different Service Delivery Models

This article reviews recent efforts to implement the William & Mary English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum within the Paradise Valley Unified School District gifted programs. The programs include self-contained gifted, as well as content replacement programs in Title 1 and Non-Title 1 schools. Each delivery model modified the constructs of the curriculum to meet the unique needs of the students serviced. All results indicated successful academic progress and student growth.

To Teach or Not to Teach in Title 1 Schools : An Explorative Study on Preservice Teachers Motivation

This study aims to explore preservice teachers' motivations to teach at Title I schools as well as whether their motivations differ based on how far they are in their teacher education program. A total of 128 preservice teachers from two groups with different numbers of field experiences were surveyed. Preservice teachers cited extrinsic, altruistic, intrinsic, and past learning experiences as main reasons motivated them wanting to teach at Title I schools upon graduation. Their motivations might change due to the influences from professional training and social experiences. It was also found that in both groups there were many preservice teachers undecided whether they wanted to teach at Title I schools or not. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Stability of Risk Status During Preschool

The current study investigated the stability of children’s risk status across the preschool year. A total of 1,102 preschool children attending Title 1 schools ( n = 631) and non-Title 1 schools ( n = 471) participated in this study. Using averaged standard scores for two measures of language, print knowledge, and phonological awareness administered at the beginning of preschool (Time 1) and midyear (Time 2), children were classified as at-risk or not at each time point. Prevalence rates were determined for four categories of risk status: (1) always at risk, (2) only at risk at Time 1, (3) never at risk, and (4) only at risk at Time 2. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that the best predictor of children’s risk status was their level of skill in the respective literacy domain at the beginning of preschool. These results suggest that children with stable risk can be identified early and may benefit from the early provision of extra instructional support within a response-to-instruction framework.

A descriptive analysis of teachers' use of evidence-based practices across ethnicity, gender, and disabiltiy risk

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent teachers use evidence-based practices during classroom instruction and if those practices were applied differentially across demographic groups (i.e., ethnicity, gender, and disability risk) in Title 1 schools located within the city limits of a large urban center. A descriptive analysis was used to answer the research questions. Results of the study provide evidence that teachers use evidence-based practices at rates lower than advocated in the literature. Additionally, results demonstrated that when teachers did use evidence-based practices they were distributed inequitably across demographic groups. Findings from the study support the need to research parsimonious strategies to increase teachers' equitable use of evidence-based practices.

Maximizing Educator Enhancement: Aligned Seminar And Online Professional Development

Professional development and learning has a long history in seminar-like models, as well as in the more educator-personal delivery approaches. The question is whether an intentionally coordinated, integrated combination of the two PDL approaches will have best impacts for educators as quantified in improved student performance. Contrasts between baseline and Post-Program performance levels showed 19% gains in Reading and 24% gains in Math, significantly beyond expectation. Analyses for Title 1 schools showed significant shrinkage of performance gaps with contrasted non-Title 1 schools. These gains outpaced those found for either PDL approach alone, indicating that educational leaders will be wise to undertake implementation of intentionally aligned and coordinated approaches combining PDL Seminars with online, on-demand PDL.

The Impact of Mass School Immunization on School Attendance

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact a free, on-site influenza immunization program could have on attendance in Title 1 schools. Four Title 1 elementary schools participated in the study. Students at 2 schools were offered free FluMist® immunizations on site, and students at 2 control schools were not. Compliance on receiving FluMist® was measured on the percentage of students participating after evaluating for medical exclusions. Documentation on the reason for absences at all 4 schools included self- or parent-reported influenza. Attendance rates for the year also were compared with the previous year for all 4 schools. A comparison was done of total days absent versus total days enrolled between schools receiving FluMist® and schools not receiving the vaccine. Despite the fact that FluMist® is a new vaccine and is not required for children, 57% of those medically eligible to receive it had parental permission and received the vaccine. The 2 schools receiving FluMist® increased their attendance rates from 95.3% and 93.9% to 96.1% and 95.8%. Previously, the comparison schools each had a 94.6% attendance rate; one fell to 94.4% and the other rose very slightly to 94.7%. The differences in self- or parent-reported influenza absences were not significant. However, the difference in days absent between individual vaccinated and nonvaccinated schools was statistically significant.