Similar Middle Grades Students, Different Results

EdSource, in collaboration with faculty from Stanford Graduate School of Education, has conducted a large-scale study of middle grades practices in California and their relationship to student outcomes on 6th-8th grade CSTs in English Language Arts, Math, and Algebra.

The Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades study is based on extensive surveys of 303 principals; 3,752 ELA and Math 6-8th grade teachers; and 157 superintendents of districts throughout the state. The analysis was designed to identify practices and policies that differentiate higher from lower performing schools after controlling for student background.

This study of the middle grades is the largest of its kind ever conducted, and was released in February 2010 and will be discussed in this seminar.

Speakers include:

• Michael W. Kirst, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University and Founding Director, PACE
• Trish Williams, Executive Director, EdSource

Moderated by David N. Plank, Executive Director, PACE