IDEIA requires a student who receives special education services to have an IEP that is specific to each student and NCLB requires that all students be taught the same knowledge and skills. The purpose of this study was to determine with which federal school law, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) or Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA), school districts in Mississippi are choosing to comply and what drives that decision. The research questions were: (a) Are Mississippi school districts choosing to comply with NCLB or IDEIA when writing IEPs for their students receiving special education services? and (b) What are the reasons for that decision? A multiple-case design was used in this study resulting in a more convincing explanation because when more cases are involved variation increases across the studies. Real-life applications and issues were noted in case studies. The researcher was the main instrument for data collection and analysis. Three school districts participated in the study that included 11 teachers. Five themes emerged from the case studies. Those were: (a) teacher opposition, (b) out-of-level testing, (c) achievement test preparation, (d) lack of written guidelines, and (e) different approaches in meeting educational needs of students receiving special education services. Recommendations included: (a) development of guidelines for special education students who do not take the grade level MCT , (b) mandatory training on standardized IEP guidelines, (c) further study on report of numbers of special education students within schools, (d) further study on self-concept of special education students who participate in out-of-level instruction and testing, (e) comparative study of inclusion and resource students using MCT as pre- and post-test.

The goal of this research project was to determine the content of the discourse occurring in grade-level meetings and coaching sessions and participants' perceptions of how the conversations in these two venues impacted learning and practice for individual teachers. Learning Forward's Standard for Professional Learning (2001) recommended that teachers organize into learning communities providing continuous learning opportunities to enhance adult learning and collaboration. Little (2003a) found that research was lacking that described the dynamics of communities of practice that promote teacher learning. It was in the content of the discourse that a proxy for evidence was found that the actions of the instructional coaches and grade-level meetings impact teacher growth. A case study was utilized to examine these structures and processes for job-embedded professional development at a school located in the eastern United States. Research questions focused on the nature of the discourse among teachers and coaches in the grade-level meetings and in individual coaching conversations. Teachers reported what they felt that they learned in the grade-level meetings and the coaching discussions. Additionally, teachers stated what they did differently as a result of this method of professional learning occurring in grade-level meetings and coaching discussions. Finally, the school's improvement plans were compared with the conversations in the grade-level meetings and coaching sessions. Verbatim transcriptions of recordings of grade-level meetings and coaching sessions provided data which revealed categories of content, coaching roles, and patterns of discourse. The goals of the meetings and coaching were to ensure communication about school district policies and to set expectations for teacher performance and student learning. Assertions generated provided patterns of discourse that identified roles of the principal, coaches, and teachers. This investigation utilized a descriptive content discourse analysis and found support for the finding that the actions of this emerging community of practice were directed by federal, state, and local polices for teacher performance and student learning. Patterns of discourse revealed roles of administration, coaches, and teachers as they collaborated to negotiate meaning through the building of a shared repertoire. Interview data revealed that these dynamics enhanced teacher growth in many cases; however, lack of teacher input may have limited some potential opportunities. / Ed. D.

Book Summary: Applying Techniques to Common Encounters in School Counseling: A Case-Based Approach helps counselors in training bridge the gap between theory and practice by showing them how to theoretically frame or understand the problems and issues they encounter, how to proceed, and what action steps to take when they enter the field as school counselors. It answers the questions new counselors have in real school settings, such as What is it really like to live the life of a professional school counselor? How does the theory presented in the classroom apply to the myriad of situations encountered in the real life, everyday school setting? Case studies and scenarios give readers examples of many commonly encountered presenting issues. For each scenario the case is introduced, background information is supplied, and initial processing questions are posed. The authors include a discussion of the theoretical models or frameworks used to address the issue, along with a table segmented by theoretical paradigm and grade level that includes other techniques that could be used in the presenting case. With these tools at their disposal, readers gain a firm understanding of the issues from several frames of reference, along with interventions meant to create movement toward a successful resolution.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among secondary school students&rsquo / attitudes, motivation and self-efficacy beliefs toward chemistry lessons and to determine the effect of grade levels, gender and school type on each dependent variable. The study was conducted during fall semester of 2011&ndash / 2012 academic year in four high schools which are general public high school, Anatolian public high school, vocational public high school, and general private high school in Ankara. Cluster random sampling method was applied and 813 students taking chemistry course participated to the study. Attitude Scale Toward Chemistry (ASTC), Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire-Turkish Version (MSLQ-TV), and High School Chemistry Self Efficacy Scale for cognitive skills (HCSS) were used as measuring instruments. The collected data were analyzed with correlational analysis and with three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for each dependent variable. v The results of the analyses displayed that there were high correlations among students&rsquo / attitudes, motivation, and self-efficacy beliefs toward chemistry lessons. Furthermore, the results showed that school type and gender of the students had ignificant effect on their attitudes, motivation, and self-efficacy beliefs toward chemistry lessons. For instance, students in private public high school had the highest and students in vocational public high school had the lowest attitudes, and girls were more motivated than boys toward chemistry lessons. However, grade level of the students had no significant effect on their attitude, motivation, and self-efficacy beliefs toward chemistry lessons.

The aim of this study was to investigate the elementary school students&rsquo / motivational traits (achiever, curious, conscientious and social) in science. More specifically present study examined the effects of gender, grade level and location of the school on elementary school students&rsquo / motivational traits. The data in the main study was collected by Motivational Pattern Questionnaire from randomly selected 8 classes of randomly selected 15 schools in five districts of Ankara. A total of 3685 students (1927 females and 1748 males), about 230 students per school, were participated in the study. The questionnaire was administrated to 6th (n=1291), 7th (n=1177) and 8th (n=1207) graders in spring 2004-2005 semester. According to the obtained data, scores of the students are assigned to four percentile groups. Each student assigned to the motivational pattern according to the highest percentage. To find the effects of gender, grade level, and location of the school on students motivational traits, one- way MANOVA was used. Results of the statistical analysis revealed that gender, has a significant effect on students&rsquo / motivational traits and girls are more achiever, curious, conscientious and sociable than boys. Furthermore, grade level has a significant effect on students&rsquo / motivational traits and 6th graders are more achiever, curious, conscientious and sociable than 7th and 8th graders. It is also found that scores of the students related to the motivational traits decreases as the grade level increases. This means that 8th graders have lowest mean score while 6th graders have the highest mean score relate to motivational trait. While students from urban schools are more curious and more sociable than the students from rural schools, no significant difference between the mean scores of the students from urban schools and the students from rural schools with respect to achiever students and conscientious students dimensions was demonstrated.

The primary purposes of present study were 1) investigation of epistemological beliefs held by preservice teachers, 2)investigation of relationship between pre-service teachers&rsquo / environmental literacy and their epistemologicalbeliefs,3)investigation of predictors of pre-service teachers&rsquo / intentions to act environmental behavior. Secondary purpose of the study was to investigate effect of gender, academic major, and grade level on environmental literacy of pre-service teachers. This study was carried out during the spring semester of2008. Sample of this study constituted 560 pre-service teachers from a public university in Ankara. In this study data was obtained from the administration of Turkish versions of Schommers&rsquo / Epistemological Belief Questionnaire and Environmental Literacy Questionnaire. The data were analyzed by using factor analysis, correlational analysis, multiple regression analysis, and multivariate analysis of variances (MANOVA). We found five epistemological belief factors which indicated that pre-service teachers held multidimensional epistemological beliefs.Epistemological belief components, innate ability and quick learning, were significantly related with behavior component of environmental literacy. Innate ability, quick learning dimensions of epistemological beliefs and environmental attitude, concern were investigated to be the predictors of behavior. mean scores of pre-service teachers&rsquo / .Moreover,results of this study revealed that gender / academic major and grade level have effect on environmental literacy of pre-serviceteachers.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of Middle East Technical University&amp / #8217 / s Science Centre (METU SC) on students&amp / #8217 / attitudes towards science. The sample (N=251) consisted of 131 males (52.2%) and 120 females (47.8%). The age range of the students varied from 11 to 14 (M=12.71, SD=0.80). The attitude scale was administered before, immediately after, and one week after a visit to METU SC. Because of the limitations on sampling procedure two different research designs were used. Design 1 was a quasi-experimental design (46 students in experimental group, 46 students in control group) and attempted to determine the impact of METU SC on 6th graders&amp / #8217 / attitudes towards science with respect to six constructs of the attitude scale. Design 2 was a weak experimental design (N=159) and attempted to determine the impact of METU SC on students&amp / #8217 / overall attitudes towards science with respect to their gender, grade levels, and science achievement scores. The results of this study suggest that METU SC has high potential on increasing middle school students&amp / #8217 / attitudes toward science in several dimensions. Furthermore, this increase is independent from gender, science achievement, and grade levels. Also considering that this achievement was accomplished in quite a short time (approximately one hour), science centres can be used by educators as an effective way of increasing students&amp / #8217 / attitudes toward science.

Introduction: A mercury fact sheet that contains essential information and can be clearly understood by majority of adults is needed. In Fiscal Year 2009, EPA responded to more releases related to mercury than any other release. Since 2003, EPA has responded to more than 200 mercury releases. The American Association of Poison Control Centers estimate more than 50,000 people have been exposed to mercury vapors from 2003 to 2008, and 19,000 mercury cleanups have occurred from 2006 to 2008. Purpose: To determine what information needs to be included in a mercury fact sheet and how it should be created to inform adults who may be important in preventing and limiting exposure during accidental mercury release in the United States. Methods: The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Formula Data and the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) tool were used to determine readability and appropriateness of twelve fact sheets related to elemental mercury. Length of fact sheets and illustration coverage percentage were also assessed. In addition, surveys were performed with four people who were involved in response to mercury releases in 2007 to 2009. The information they provided was also summarized to determine important elements that should be included in the fact sheets. Results: Information in a fact sheet should include the background of mercury, procedures in the event of a release, and ways to prevent releases. Based on the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, the literacy levels required to comprehend the 12 facts sheets was 11.4 on average. The majority of adults cannot comprehend the twelve fact sheets evaluated. Based on the evaluation of the material using SAM, none of the fact sheets scored higher than adequate with SAM. Only two fact sheets were written on one page and none of the fact sheets used relevant, simple illustrations with captions. Discussion: An effective mercury fact sheet needs to be about one page long and focuses on background, procedures, and prevention of exposure during a mercury release. Information obtained from interviews found that people focused the majority of their attention on the first page only. The fact sheet needs to be written at a sixth grade reading and to be able to receive a superior rating when assessed with SAM. This will ensure that the fact sheet is readable and comprehendible by the majority of adults and include the necessary information that the public must know regarding mercury. A new fact sheet was developed and assessed using both Flesch-Kincaid level and SAM and was found to have a 6.6 reading grade level and received a superior score under SAM. This fact sheet will be used by EPA along with the existing more comprehensive fact sheets at state agencies, and poison control centers for future releases and will be given to schools to educate and prevent future releases.

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Book Summary: Applying Techniques to Common Encounters in School Counseling: A Case-Based Approach helps counselors in training bridge the gap between theory and practice by showing them how to theoretically frame or understand the problems and issues they encounter, how to proceed, and what action steps to take when they enter the field as school counselors. It answers the questions new counselors have in real school settings, such as What is it really like to live the life of a professional school counselor? How does the theory presented in the classroom apply to the myriad of situations encountered in the real life, everyday school setting? Case studies and scenarios give readers examples of many commonly encountered presenting issues. For each scenario the case is introduced, background information is supplied, and initial processing questions are posed. The authors include a discussion of the theoretical models or frameworks used to address the issue, along with a table segmented by theoretical paradigm and grade level that includes other techniques that could be used in the presenting case. With these tools at their disposal, readers gain a firm understanding of the issues from several frames of reference, along with interventions meant to create movement toward a successful resolution.