http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ A search of MERLOT materials Copyright 1997-2013 MERLOT. All rights reserved. Sun, 26 May 2013 01:28:37 PDT Sun, 26 May 2013 01:28:37 PDT http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/images/merlot.gif http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ 44 34 http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=255386 The National Center for Research on Cultural Diversity and Second Language Learning site includes publications and reports such as Educational Practice Reports, Research Reports, School Reform & Student Diversity Papers, and a Report on Educating All Our Students.  These publications are research-based studies of effective practices for assisting English Language Learners to achieve school success. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=597106 This is a collection of student web pages for a master's level online course titled Theories of Adult Learning as part of the MS in Global eLearning Degree offered at Texas A&M University-Commerce in the Fall 2011 Semester. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=255448 The publications and materials reports on this site include: "Double the Work: Challenges and Solutions to Acquiring Language and Academic Literacy for Adolescent English Language Learners," "Writing Next: Effective Strategies to Improve Writing of Adolescents in Middle and High School," "Who's Counted? Who's Counting? Understanding High School Graduation Rates," "Reading Next: A Vision for Action and Research in Middle and High School Literacy, a report to Carnegie Corporation of New York," "Profiles in Leadership: Innovative Approaches to Transforming the American High School," "Tapping the Potential: Retaining and Developing High-Quality New Teachers," as well as many others. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=259943 In this essay, Elmore sets forth a novel vision for school leadership that would not reside with individuals, but would instead be distributed among various branches that are fully accountable not only to one another and to teachers, but also to the marketplace – in this case, parents and students. He begins by describing the notion of "loose-coupling," in which the core of education – what and how students are actually learning – resides in isolated individual classrooms. Teachers have a great deal of discretion in what and how they teach, and are intentionally buffered by the system from outside intrusions—leaving administrators, superintendents, and policymakers out of touch, performing tasks designed mainly to increase public confidence in the system: organizing, budgeting, managing, and "dealing with disruptions." http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=303652 An online simulation that allows users to create their own California state budget. Users make choices about spending, service levels and taxes. Offers a good beginning point for discussions about some of the issues associated with building a multi-billion dollar budget http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=262261 The California Charter Schools Act of 1992 covered a wide range of issues, yet it was brief and nonspecific. Since the first California charter school opened in 1993, policymakers have continued to add and fine-tune their policy direction. This update focuses on current policy issues, which concern charter school facilities, financial impacts, and governance. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=263390 Schools can play a key role in guiding early preparation for postsecondary education through fostering academic preparation and achievement, supporting parent involvement, providing college and career planning information, and helping students through the many steps in postsecondary planning. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=255806 This site is filled with resources that will help strengthen the performance of education leaders to improve student achievement.  There are a number of articles and books available that are intended to provide examples and serve as guides for those interested in education leadership.  Some of these articles and books are: "Preparing School Leaders for a Changing World: Lessons from Examplary Leadership Development Programs," "A Wallace Perspective: Leadership for Learning: Making the Connections Among State, District and School Policies and Practices," "How Leadership Influences Student Learning," and "From Bystander to Ally: Transforming the District Human Resources Department."  Many others can also be found here. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=262277 This 16-page EdSource lay report summarizes the findings from the School District Financial Management: Personnel, Policies, and Practices study. Written with K-12 administrators, community leaders, and state and local policymakers in mind, it will help inform California’s discussions around the relationship between districts’ fiscal health, state funding systems, and business office practices. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=254936 Compiled by Ron Chenail at the site of The Qualitative Report (an online journal of qualitative research), this list is dedicated to providing researchers, clinicians, teachers, and students with on-line access to a collection of qualitative research sites and materials available through the World Wide Web. Papers, dissertations, and syllabi are just some of the useful materials that can be found in the Resources section.