A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Foreword

In determining sound education practices for their schools and communities, policymakers, educators, and parents must often find their way through a maze of conventions, recommendations, and theories. Sometimes new research seems to conflict with established practice, with older research, or even with other current research. Does education research allow us to say anything with confidence about what works? In fact, while substantial gaps remain, we do know a great deal about what is effective in education.

In 1989, the President and the nation's 50 governors held an historic education summit that culminated in the adoption of six National Education Goals. These six broad Goals serve as a framework for much of the current reform movement. In order to help all those who are critical to its success--from parents to national policymakers--the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) has produced Reaching the Goals, a series of publications describing what we know from research that applies to each Goal, as well as the limits of that knowledge.

Each publication is the result of a deliberate process guided by task forces composed of talented individuals from various programs and offices within OERI including the National Center for Education Statistics, the Office of Research, Programs for the Improvement of Practice, Fund for the Improvement and Reform of Schools and Teaching, and Library Programs. Each task force was charged with assessing the state of research for a particular Goal and developing a research and dissemination agenda for OERI for that Goal. Lengthier technical documents that formed the basis for these publications and include all relevant research citations are available from OERI.

If we are to succeed in improving education and training to meet our ambitious National Education Goals, research must inform and encourage the development of sound policies and practices. By making available in a clear and understandable format the best research we have, these publications can be invaluable to those who are serious about reform.

To obtain copies of the technical report, which formed the basis of this publication and which includes all relevant research citations, contact OERI, Dept. EIB, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20208-5641.

Credits Acknowledgments