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Peabody Journal of Education, Volume 82, Issue 4, 2007

Listen to an introduction of the current issue from Jim Guthrie

Special Issue: Single Best Idea for Improving K-12 Education 
Vol. 82, No. 4

What happens when you ask some of the nation's leading education researchers to describe their single best idea for improving K-12 education? The result is the collection of articles contained in this special issue.

The idea for this project began with the formation of a technical board of advisors for the newly created Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas. Prior to the first gathering of the board, I asked it members to write and present a paper making the case for their single best idea for education reform.  We heard a variety of provocative and specific proposals for how we could best improve K-12 education. The proposals clustered around a few common themes.

The papers from Eric Hanushek, Michael Podgursky, and Matthew Springer suggest that merit pay for educators in the most promising strategy for improving schools. The works of Rebecca Maynard, Irma Perez-Johnson, and John Witte focus on preschool as the key to improving K-12 education. James Guthrie, Paul Peterson, and Patrick Wolf believe that the solution to K-12 ills can be found in expanded testing and improved data-systems. The last group of papers by Jay Greene, Carolyn Herrington, Stephen Nettles, Kenneth Wong, and Francis Shen look to the governance and structure of school systems.

We never did settle on what was the single best idea. But this set of practical proposals should provide policymakers and researchers with the kinds of ideas we need to be considering for making significant improvements in K-12 education.

CONTENTS

Introduction to the Special Issue on the Single Best Idea for Improving K-12 Education
Jay P. Greene
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 549-550.
Introduction

Credentials Versus Performance: Review of the Teacher Performance Pay Research
Michael Podgursky, Matthew G. Springer
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 551-573.
Abstract

The Single Salary Schedule and Other Issues of Teacher Pay
Eric A. Hanushek
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 574-586.
Abstract

The Case for Early, Targeted Interventions to Prevent Academic Failure
Irma Perez-Johnson, Rebecca Maynard
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 587-616.
Abstract

A Proposal for State, Income-Targeted, Preschool Vouchers
John F. Witte
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 617-644.
Abstract

The Case for Curriculum-Based, External Examinations That Have Significant Consequences for Students
Paul E. Peterson
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 645-666.
Abstract

Data Systems Linking Resources to Actions and Outcomes: One of the Nation's Most Pressing Education Challenges
James W. Guthrie
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 667-689.
Abstract

Academic Improvement Through Regular Assessment
Patrick J. Wolf
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 690-702.
Abstract

Fixing Special Education
Jay P. Greene
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 703-723.
Abstract

Revisiting the Importance of the Direct Effects of School Leadership on Student Achievement: The Implications for School Improvement Policy
Stephen M. Nettles, Carolyn Herrington
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 724-736.
Abstract

Mayoral Leadership Matters: Lessons Learned From Mayoral Control of Large Urban School Systems
Kenneth K. Wong, Francis X. Shen
Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 82, No. 4: pages 737-768.
Abstract