The Budget Dilemma

Some NMSA Research Summaries Student Achievement and the Middle School Concept (Sept. 2006) This compendium of research studies demonstrated a positive association between middle schools and academic achievement. For example: Achievement scores are higher for students in schools that are teaming with high common planning time (Mertens & Flowers, 2006; Mertens, Flowers, & Mulhall, 1998). Team size and length of time teaming also affect student achievement scores (Flowers, Mertens, & Mulhall, 1999). Teachers with middle grades certification engage more frequently in "best practices," which impacts achievement (Mertens, Flowers, & Mulhall, 2002). Students home alone after school for three days or more report lower levels of self-esteem and academic efficacy and higher levels of behavior problems (Mertens, Flowers, & Mulhall, 2003). Interdisciplinary Teaming (May 2004) This compilation of research concluded there is an association between teaming and a number of positive student outcomes. For example: More highly implemented schools (e.g., teaming, common planning time, small teams, advisory) were found to have higher levels of student achievement and student self-esteem (Felner et al., 1997). Schools that are fully engaged in teaming with high levels of common planning time show improvement in student self-reported outcomes (e.g., depression, self-esteem, behavior problems, academic efficacy). Further, student achievement scores improved dramatically, particularly for schools with high percentages of free/reduced lunch students (Mertens, Flowers, & Mulhall, 1998).

Published by the National Middle School Association in 2010 and available on their website, Research and Resources in Support of This We Believe is an invaluable and concise guide for educators and those dedicated to the education of young adolescents. This edition, an essential companion to NMSA's position paper This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents, articulates the research related to the middle school concept and the 16 characteristics of successful middle grades schools. his book includes Rationale for middle grades research Research on the middle school concept Research summaries about major topic areas Brief annotations for the 16 characteristics of This We Believe Recommended resources

Defending the “middle” Cite research Share success Refer to Part of Regents Regs. What questions do you have? How are you responding? What have you been asked to do?