An examination of standards implementation in Philadelphia public schools as part of a series of progress reports on the Children Achieving Challenge from the 1996-97 school year. This report addresses how standards influence instruction in Philadelphia classrooms. The authors found that many teachers did not think that they needed to change their instructional practice to incorporate the district’s new content standards. Teachers saw the standards as a list of topics to be included in their curricula, rather than as a set of learning outcomes – their most common response was, ‘I’m already doing that.’ The report also examines how new assessment mechanisms, including the SAT-9, affected classroom instruction.
Making Sense of Standards: Implementation Issues and the Impact on Teacher Practice
Date: May 1998
Related Publications
Publication
Executive Summary: The Implementation, Impact, and Cost Effectiveness of Developmental Education Reform in California’s Community Colleges
Developmental education (DE) has come under increasing scrutiny as researchers have identified that a) many students placed in DE would be successful if placed in college-level coursework; b) lengthy DE course sequences lead to decreased…
Publication
Final Report: The Implementation, Impact, and Cost Effectiveness of Developmental Education Reform in California’s Community Colleges
Developmental education (DE) has come under increasing scrutiny as researchers have identified that a) many students placed in DE would be successful if placed in college-level coursework; b) lengthy DE course sequences lead to decreased…
Publication
Creating Safe Spaces: Promoting Physical and Emotional Safety
While multipurpose out-of-school time (OST) organizations provide supportive environments for youth development and social-emotional growth, in the context of the arts, safety requires an approach that mitigates physical harm and creates an emotionally safe space…
Publication
Building Bridges: Partnerships, Parents, and Pathways in Youth Arts
Multipurpose out-of-school time (OST) organizations partner with families to support children’s needs and gather input on programming. These organizations also collaborate with community groups to access resources, enrich content, and bolster sustainability. But because partnerships…
Publication
Moving Beyond Popsicle Sticks and Googly Eyes: How Current Art Equipment and Technology Can Improve Arts Programming
In many multipurpose out-of-school time (OST) organizations, “art” supplies are typically markers, construction paper, and glue with googly eyes, with popsicle sticks thrown in for fun. But while arts- and-crafts activities have their place, they…
Publication
Amplifying Youth Voice: Input, Leadership, and Agency in the Arts
While youth voice is important in arts-focused youth programming, many multipurpose out-of-school time (OST) organizations default to traditional crafts or adult‑designed projects. The result is limited opportunities for youth to make decisions, lead, or bring…
Publication
Unlevel Playing Fields: Disparities in Access and Investment in Pennsylvania High School Athletics
Access to high school athletics in Pennsylvania varies substantially by district. For many students, particularly those in large, urban districts, opportunities to participate in school-based sports remain limited or out of reach. This has meaningful…
Publication
Restorative Justice Practices in Allegheny County Schools: An Allegheny County Education Research Brief
In Allegheny County, schools are working to create safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments, but disparities in discipline continue to affect students’ opportunities and experiences. Black students, particularly Black girls, remain disproportionately impacted by exclusionary…
Publication
The Evolving Promise of Postsecondary Education for Incarcerated Learners in California
What happens when the educational opportunities for incarcerated learners are fundamentally changed by the passage of education reform legislation? In which were designed to streamline developmental education by creating clear pathways to course placement, eliminating…