A Clear Link between School and Teacher Characteristics, Student Demographics, and Student Achievement

摘要: Introduction With the growing national interest in educational accountability, reform and improved students' achievement, it is important to conduct a study that can provide information about relationship between resources, student demographics achievement. Policy makers, leaders, community groups are beginning realize achievement function of variables other than per-pupil allocations funds, they searching for predict therefore impact levels students public schools. The goal current education according Odden Clune (1995) produce higher movement schools motivated large measures by economic issues (Hanushek, 1997). Concerns over strength economy, incomes citizens, gap standards living different racial forcefully grounded questions quality schools, graduates. State North Carolina currently undergoing known as ABCs' education. ABC program focuses on strong accountability with emphasis high standards, teaching basics, maximum local control (N.C. Department Instruction, Some specific features plan : measured school-by-school basis, flexibility use incentive funding staffs at achieving levels, assistance teams identified low performing procedures Board dismiss administrators teachers ensure renewed reading, writing mathematics. Researchers have need focus internal allocation resources among school buildings within district, micro-level analysis (Monk, 1990; monk & Underwood, 1988; Odden, 1988). This purpose this research was examine selected student/family scores fourth-grade elementary during 1995-96 year. key guided structure were: 1. Is there significant characteristics reading mathematics scores? 2. 3. Research Question One first question addressed county's Fourth-grade class size were two used answer question. Class an resource because indicates availability interact students. A decade failed conclusive results. sentiment smaller better well established all grade level survey 1,000 New York United Teachers Organization 1974. About 80% surveyed stated extremely improving Glass Smith (1982) found small classrooms offer friendly environment climate more conducing learning. Greenwald, Hedges Laine (1996) emphasized many educators believe critical variable learning, but Hallinan Sorensen (1985), had produced remarkably inconsistent …