Research by Author & Topic

Publications by Beatriz Chu Clewell on Education

This two-guide set for evaluators and others interested in evaluation grew out of a National Science Foundation funded effort to improve cross project evaluations. Guide 1, Designing a Cross-Project Evaluation, focuses on evaluation design including identification and operationalization of program goals, building of logic models, and selection of indicators and appropriate measures for these indicators. Guide 2, Collecting and Using Data in Cross-Project Evaluation, lays out multiple issues involved in data collection, strengths and weaknesses of different data collection formats, and methods for ensuring data quality, confidentiality, and the protection of human subjects.

Good Schools in Poor Neighborhoods contrasts highly effective schools serving urban, low-income, minority youth with their more typical, struggling counterparts. Highlighted are two disparate schools: one serving predominately African American students in a large northeastern city and one serving Latino students in a southwestern urban area. Through solid data from original research, as well as lively vignettes and vivid quotes from principals, teachers, parents, and students, a picture of exceptional schools emerges to guide policymakers and practitioners.

This brief presents research findings as well as policy recommendations arising from a study of the No Child Left Behind Act and its implications for immigrant children and English language learners (ELLs). Analyses are based on nationally-representative data from the Schools and Staffing Survey and detailed case studies of selected elementary schools and school districts serving high concentrations of ELL students. Results reveal an extraordinary degree of concentration of ELL students in a few schools that tend to be large, urban and serve a predominantly minority student population. Case studies at some of these schools suggest that, while implementation of NCLB has resulted in problems associated with increased testing (exacerbated by the use of inappropriate tests), the law has also had a positive effect on the education of ELL students as it has increased the attention paid to these students; fostered the alignment of curriculum, instruction and professional development; and raised the bar for student achievement. Implications of findings for the education of ELL students, particularly in schools serving low concentrations of English language learners, are discussed. Policy recommendations presented include the development of appropriate tests for ELLs, the inclusion of pre-K in NCLB legislation, and the provision of professional development for teachers.

This report describes the implementation of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act in school districts and schools with large enrollments of English language learners (ELLs) and immigrant students. The study, part of a series on the education of young immigrant students, documents how this landmark legislation in education policy played out in three high-ELL districts and six schools and traces the law’s effect on the education of ELL students attending these schools. The research, which takes a case study approach, addresses the following questions: 1) How has NCLB been implemented in high-ELL schools? 2) What has been the effect of NCLB on the improvement of high-ELL schools? and 3) What has been the effect of NCLB on ELL students in high-ELL schools? The findings reveal that, while implementation of NCLB in high-LEP schools has resulted in some problems for ELL students’ education, the net effect of the law has been positive because it has increased attention paid to ELL students; increased the alignment of curriculum, instruction, professional development, and testing; and raised the bar for ELL student achievement.

This report presents key evaluation findings for the National Science Foundation's Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program. LSAMP was designed to increase the pool of underrepresented minority students completing bachelor's degrees and pursuing graduate studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Findings reveal that LSAMP graduates were indeed more likely than national comparison groups to enroll in and complete graduate studies in STEM. Program staff report that LSAMP expanded institutions' ability to develop STEM talent. A research-based descriptive model of the program's implementation is included, establishing a critical link between theory and practice to inform future interventions.

This is the full technical evaluation report on the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program--a National Science Foundation effort to increase the pool of underrepresented minority students receiving bachelor's degrees and pursuing graduate studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods, the evaluation describes LSAMP's implementation and assesses whether it achieved its goals. Findings reveal that LSAMP graduates are more likely to enroll in and complete graduate programs in STEM than nationally-representative comparison groups. Program staff report that LSAMP expanded institutions' ability to develop STEM talent. A research-based descriptive model of the program is included, reinforcing the link between theory and practice in effective interventions.

This report offers a detailed picture of elementary schools educating limited English proficient (LEP) students. Analysis reveals that LEP students are largely segregated: nearly 70% of LEP children are enrolled in only 10% of schools. Compared to Low- and No-LEP schools, High-LEP schools are predominately urban, have mostly low-income and minority students, and face challenges in staff recruitment. The remaining 30% of LEP students are in schools with fewer LEP peers, where they are less likely to receive services tailored to their educational needs. Because the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act holds schools accountable for the performance of LEP children, the report discusses the findings' implications for implementing NCLB in High- and Low-LEP schools. [View the corresponding press release]

This report identifies mathematics and science curricula as well as professional development models at the middle and high school levels that are effective based on their success in increasing student achievement. The goal of the study was to provide some choice to districts and schools that wanted guidance in selecting a curriculum and that wished to use effectiveness as a selection criterion. Unexpectedly, most middle and high school mathematics and science curricula did not have studies of student achievement with comparison groups, and it proved especially difficult to find effects in either math or science for subgroups by sex, minority status, and urban status. Findings strongly suggest that science curricula is more effective when it is inquiry-based, although math curricula can be effective when standards- or traditional-based.

The focus of this review was to identify current math and science curricula and professional development at the middle and high school levels that showed evidence of positive impact on student achievement. Our goal was to come up with enough math and science curricula with relatively credible evaluations to provide some choice to districts and schools that wanted guidance in selecting a curriculum and that wished to use effectiveness as a selection criterion.

The projected need for 2 million new teachers within the next eight years has spawned a number of efforts to increase the teaching pool. With K-12 enrollments expected to mushroom well into the new century, and the current crop of teachers either retiring or leaving the teaching profession for other jobs, states and local school districts are scrambling to ensure a steady supply of high-quality teachers. For many of these school districts - especially those in urban areas, where it hurts the most - the teacher shortage has already arrived. And these shortages are intensified in selected fields, such as bilingual education and special education, and in subjects such as mathematics and science.