A study of the spectrum of use and related ICT infrastructure costs This report records work that Becta has done with schools which have implemented a range of open source software (OSS) solutions. This project, funded by the DfES, was one of an interrelated series, all looking at ways of helping schools make effective and sustainable use of ICT by exploring the total cost of ownership (TCO) of...

This paper reports on a natural experiment in the Philadelphia School District. It compares Middle Schools to established K-8 schools, as well as to newly formed K-8 schools that are part of the district’s K-8 conversion policy, in order to determine if the different school structures have an effect on student academic achievement. The outcome is students’ 8 grade mathematics achievement and ou...

This study aimed to explore the gap regarding technology integration between urban and rural schools based on the Will Skill Tool model. This study was guided by three main questions: 1) Is there any significant difference in terms of technology availability between rural and urban elementary schools?; 2) Is there any significant difference in terms of teachers’ attitudes, competence, levels an...

Youth who switch schools are more likely to demonstrate a wide array of negative behavioral and educational outcomes, including dropping out of high school. However, whether switching schools actually puts youth at risk for dropout is uncertain, since youth who switch schools are similar to dropouts in their levels of prior school achievement and engagement, which suggests that switching school...

Introduction So as to develop more effective countermeasures against influenza, timely and precise information about influenza activity at schools, kindergartens, and nursery schools may be helpful. At the Infectious Diseases Surveillance Center of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, a School Absenteeism Surveillance System (SASSy) has been in operation since 2009. SASSy monitors the...

This paper describes highlights from the Weight of the Nation 2012 Schools Track. Included is a summary of 16 presentations. Presenters shared key actions for obesity prevention through schools. The information provided at the Weight of the Nation can help school health practitioners access tools, apply evidence-based strategies, and model real-world examples to successfully start obesity preve...

Acknowledgement This preliminary research is possible thanks to a grant from the Dean of Education Office at The University of Western Ontario. The grant program is set up to give faculty members the opportunity to formulate larger research grant proposals as well as investigate issues related to policy and planning in formal education. In this instance I want to pursue a historical and present...