nÃo hà / O objetivo do presente estudo concentrou-se em analisar as concepÃÃes de avaliaÃÃo da aprendizagem dos professores do curso de licenciatura em MatemÃtica do Instituto Federal de EducaÃÃo, CiÃncia e Tecnologia da ParaÃba, Campus Cajazeiras, e suas influÃncias nas prÃticas avaliativas na formaÃÃo docente. A pesquisa, de carÃter descritivo, de abordagem predominantemente qualitativa, teve como sujeitos os professores do curso supracitado. Foram utilizados como instrumentos metodolÃgicos de coleta de dados questionÃrios e entrevistas semiestruturadas, abordando aspectos relacionados Ãs concepÃÃes de educaÃÃo, avaliaÃÃo da aprendizagem e formaÃÃo de docentes. Os dados coletados atravÃs das entrevistas realizadas com os professores foram discutidos à luz do enfoque fenomenolÃgico, com base na hermenÃutica gadameriana. A partir da fusÃo de horizontes presentes nas falas dos profissionais participantes da pesquisa, foi possÃvel estabelecer reflexÃes sobre o papel assumido efetivamente pela avaliaÃÃo do ensino-aprendizagem no cenÃrio da formaÃÃo de docentes no Instituto Federal de EducaÃÃo, CiÃncia e Tecnologia da ParaÃba, Campus Cajazeiras. Concluiu-se que hà necessidade de se desenvolver, no contexto do curso pesquisado, um trabalho sistemÃtico acerca da avaliaÃÃo da aprendizagem que se constitua em prÃticas de formaÃÃo continuada dos professores que atuam no curso, visando à implementaÃÃo de uma mudanÃa nas prÃticas desenvolvidas junto aos alunos da licenciatura em MatemÃtica. Constatou-se que, apesar de muitos dos profissionais sinalizarem a intenÃÃo de realizar prÃticas de avaliaÃÃo contÃnua, numa perspectiva formativa, ainda à muito forte a heranÃa da avaliaÃÃo vinculada à ideia de aplicaÃÃo de testes, de mensuraÃÃo. O estudo indicou a necessidade de uma reformulaÃÃo do projeto pedagÃgico do curso, vislumbrando as discussÃes sobre as disciplinas e, consequentemente, a forma como elas sÃo trabalhadas e avaliadas no contexto do curso. Por fim, os professores participantes da pesquisa apontaram a importÃncia de se implementar, no campus ou no instituto como um todo, uma polÃtica de avaliaÃÃo educacional, tendo em vista a necessidade de se acompanhar/avaliar o curso em pauta (e outros) numa perspectiva de aÃÃo mais ampla, visualizando as aÃÃes a curto, mÃdio e longo prazo. Tal aÃÃo à justificada pelo fato de se tratar de formaÃÃo de professores, considerando-se que os resultados deste trabalho sà poderÃo ser visualizados em aÃÃes futuras, nas prÃticas dos futuros docentes. / The aim of the present paper is to analyze the conceptions of learning assessment of the Math graduation course from Instituto Federal de EducaÃÃo, CiÃncia e Tecnologia da ParaÃba, Cajazeiras, as well as its influences in the evaluative practices to the teachersâ formation. The research, being descriptive, mainly qualitative, involves teachers from the mentioned course as participants. Questionnaires and semi structured interviews were used as methodological tools for data collection, approaching aspects concerning educational conceptions, learning assessment and teachersâ formation. The data collected through the interviews carried out with teacher were discussed in the light of phenomenological approach, based on gadamerian hermeneutics. Through the fusion of the horizons present in the participantsâ speech, it was possible to establish reflections about the role effectively assumed by teaching-learning assessment, in the context of teachersâ formation in Instituto Federal de EducaÃÃo, CiÃncia e Tecnologia da ParaÃba, Cajazeiras. We concluded that there is the necessity of developing, in the course mentioned, a systematic work on learning assessment that constitutes continued formation practices of the teachers who work in the course, aiming at implementing a change in the practices developed with Math graduation course students. We found out that, besides the fact that many professionals signed the intention of working with continued assessment, in a formative perspective, it is still very present the idea of assessment linked to the idea of tests application, of measuring. The studies indicated the necessity of reformulation in the course pedagogical project, glimpsing the discussions about the subjects and, consequently, the way they are worked and assessed in the course context. At last, the teachers participants of the research pointed out to the importance of implementing, in the institution of Cajazeiras or ParaÃba, as a whole, an educational assessment policy, considering the necessity of following/evaluating the course in focus (and others) in a wide action perspective, visualizing the actions in short, medium and long period. Such action is justified since it deals with teachersâ formation, considering that the results of this work can only be visualized in future actions, in the practices of future teachers.

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Under the federal No Child Left Behind law (NCLB), schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) receive assistance and eventually are subject to corrective action if they do not improve. This qualitative case study used interviews with 10 elementary and middle school administrators from 8 public schools to assess the influence of NCLB on schools with a high percentage of students of color and students in poverty. This study was viewed through the lens of Toffler's conceptual framework of how change occurs, and on the current school reform climate surrounding NCLB and how its accountability system of assessments for students of color and high poverty makes it difficult for them to participate in the American economy. The data analysis strategies included the use of data triangulation through the review of archival data, participant interviews and employing member checks to insure the trustworthiness of data. Results showed that administrators in the targeted schools have difficulty retaining highly qualified teachers. Interventions such as extending the school day, increasing test preparation, using test data to drive instruction, and using academic intervention services have met with mixed results. Participants generally believed that NCLB has prompted a lack of curricular innovation and has promoted too much teaching to the test. Outside academic intervention, services were described as expensive and inconsistent. Interview data from the study indicated that the prevalent challenge was dealing with unmotivated and disrespectful students. This study has the potential to influence social change by providing further support for both social policy advocacy and other research on NCLB. Scheduled for reauthorization in 2009, state, federal policymakers and education advocates have called for sweeping modifications. The results of this study will contribute to the ongoing debate on student achievement, teacher quality and school equity.

High-stakes testing has increased since the passage of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. Many teachers are using teacher-centered activities with memorization and testing coach books instead of creating student-centered higher-order thinking activities. Some school districts are eliminating subjects that are not tested on state assessments. The purpose of this study was to collect information regarding the teaching experiences of 9 elementary teachers from the same school within one public school district. Teacher interviews were utilized in this case study to explore the perceived effects of high-stakes tests on elementary curriculum and instruction. The theoretical foundation for this study was based on the theories of behaviorism and constructivism. The study research questions addressed teachers' perceptions of the effects of high-stakes testing on curriculum and instruction. Qualitative coding was used to identify patterns and themes in the data through the systematic analysis and constant comparison of data sets. Data from interview transcripts were analyzed to determine factors, events, conditions, personal perspectives, and concerns of the elementary teachers. Teachers felt that high-stakes testing has resulted in a rigid, unbalanced and narrow curriculum. Teachers described that high-stakes testing has resulted in clear expectations for teachers which have helped them to know exactly what they have to teach within their classrooms. Implications for positive social change include providing teachers with necessary professional development relating to the effects of high-stakes testing; this can lead to curricular and instructional change that provides more instruction in higher-order thinking.

The increasing populations of students with special academic needs included in general education classrooms in American public schools are providing a growing teacher preparation challenge. The purpose of this study was to analyze both strengths and weaknesses in how general education teachers perceived their pre-service preparation for teaching in mixed-ability classrooms. A constructivist learning theory paradigm was used to interpret shared experiences of general education teachers working in mixed-ability public elementary schools. The research question was centered in how this group of teachers assessed preparation to provide instruction for Autism Spectrum Disorder, English Language Learners (ELL), general education, gifted, and Inter-Related Resource students. A sequential explanatory mixed methods research design was used in the study, and a teacher survey and interviews with teacher focus groups served as data collection instruments. Triangulation of data sources and peer review ensured reliability and validity of findings. Comparison of categorical sample data using percentages revealed that teachers did indeed identify differences in their perceived training. Teacher focus group data was then coded and analyzed to reveal; a need for more in-depth training for general education certification to better meet the specific needs of Autistic, ELL, gifted, and Resource students; sustained environmental support; and comfort in essential professional knowledge and abilities. Recommendations include the addition of specific special education coursework for general education certification in higher education and ongoing in-service training for public school teachers. Adopting these recommendations in both arenas may affect positive social change by increasing the likelihood of retaining general education teachers in American public schools.

Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (PCIC) es la versión española del Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las lenguas (MCER). La meta con el estudio es investigar como son los niveles A1-C2 del PCIC desde una vista de la frecuencia de las palabras. Seleccionamos de distintos campos semánticos 318 palabras de 53 subgrupos y de los seis niveles A1-C2, para tener una amplia y fiable selección de datos. A continuación, para encontrar la frecuencia de las palabras se usa CORPES XXI, la versión 0.93 de 2021. En los resultados existe una grande superposición y desviación, y no hay límites claros que difieren los niveles A1-C2 entre sí. A pesar de esto, se puede concluir en general que una palabra del nivel A1 tiene una frecuencia más alta que una palabra de A2, que en su turno tiene más alta frecuencia que la de B1, y así sucesivamente, un descenso de frecuencia. Hemos visto un patrón general, de las medidas de tendencia central, que sirve como idea básica para calcular y concluir lo siguiente sobre las 318 palabras de este estudio: 74% de las palabras A1-A2 caben dentro de las 3 mil más frecuentes palabras. 81% de las palabras B1-B2 caben dentro de las 10 mil más frecuentes palabras, mientras 75% de las palabras C1-C2 caben dentro de las 17 mil más frecuentes palabras. En total, más de 90% de todas las palabras en el estudio caben dentro de las 20 mil palabras más frecuentes. Esta cantidad, 20 mil, sería a su vez una aproximación al vocabulario que pertenece al aprendiente de segunda lengua. / Plan Curricular del Instituto Cervantes (PCIC) is the Spanish version of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR). The purpose of this study is to observe the A1-C2 levels of PCIC regarding the frequency of words. In PCIC, 318 words were selected from different semantic fields in 53 subgroups and the six levels A1-C2 to give a wide and reliable selection of data. Then, to find the frequency of the words, they were compared with CORPES XXI, version 0.93 from 2021.  The results show that there are no clear boundaries that separate the different levels A1-C2 from each other, they overlap, and there are large deviations and variations. Nevertheless, one can generally conclude that a word at A1 level has a higher frequency than a word in A2, which in turn has a higher frequency than in B1, and so on, a decrease in frequency. Using measures of central tendency, it was possible to distinguish a general pattern and calculate the following about the 318 words in this study: 74% of the A1-A2 words fit within the 3,000 most frequent words. 81% of the B1-B2 words fit within the 10,000 most frequent words, while 75% of the C1-C2 words fit within the 17,000 most frequent words. In total, over 90% of all words in the study fit within the 20,000 most frequent words. This number, 20,000, is possibly something close to the vocabulary that could be attributed to the second language learner.

The racial and gender composition of elementary school teachers does not match those of the students and this may be contributing to an inequity of achievement scores between African American and European American students. This ex post facto causal comparative study compared three levels of elementary school diversity personnel staffing on Grade 4 African American student Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) scores and differences between male African American scores and female African American scores in a suburban Atlanta county. Nine intentionally selected elementary schools were chosen representing 3 racial diversity personnel staffing levels including 39% to 50%, 25% to 27%, and 1% to 3% African American staffing. The analysis of covariance or ANCOVA and the analysis of variance or ANOVA served as the data analysis tool for both hypotheses. The results of the analysis indicated that when SES was used as the covariate, the students in the schools with a 39% to 50% African American staffing performed better than the 1% to 3% African American staffing on the Reading test while the funded Title 1 schools with 25% to 27% African American staffing had the highest reading scores. Efforts to close the student African American and European American achievement gap may be facilitated by addressing the SES issue as well as closing racial gap between teachers and students. This may support positive social change for all stakeholders of public education.

The willingness to work and a high school diploma were once all that was needed to start one's career. The problem is that on the twentieth anniversary of the reports by the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS), high school graduates may still lack what business and education leaders require for success in entry-level employment or post-secondary studies. The research question included understanding how prepared graduates from at-risk high schools are for post-secondary work or study. The study used a Likert-scaled survey to assess participant work readiness in 36 skill or competency areas. The sample consisted of recent graduates from three at-risk high schools in one school district. Graduate responses to the survey indicated that 64% were not work ready. Statistically, results were consistent with the SCANS report that indicated that 51% of all American high school graduates were underprepared. Pearson correlations were detected between the graduates' level of academic study (i.e., special education, tech-prep, college-prep, or honors) and work-readiness, and between pre-graduation work-experience and work-readiness. Implications for positive social change include improved graduate work readiness.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of science educators as they select and develop assessment methods for inquiry learning. Balancing preparations for standardized tests and authentic inquiry assessment experiences can be challenging for science educators. The review of literature revealed that current research focused on instructional methods and assessment, students' assessment experiences, and teachers' instructional methods experiences. There remains a gap in current literature regarding the experiences of science educators as they select and develop assessment methods for inquiry learning. This study filled the gap by providing a description of the experiences of science educators as they select and develop assessments for inquiry learning. The participants in this study were 16 fifth through eighth grade science teachers who participate in the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) in northwest Alabama. A phenomenological research method was chosen in order to describe the experiences of AMSTI science teachers as they select and develop assessments for inquiry learning. Data were collected through interviews and focus group discussions. The data analysis used a modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen framework. The results showed AMSTI science teachers use a variety of assessment resources and methods, feel pressures to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), and implement varying degrees of change in their assessment process due to No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Contributing a positive social change, this study's findings supplied science teachers with descriptions of successful inquiry classrooms and creative assessments that correspond to inquiry-based learning methods.