Developing E V I S N E H E R P M

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f all 2009 Contents

Are you seeing “green shoots”? 2 Peabody Columns > Peabody College Ranked No. 1 in Nation At Vanderbilt’s Peabody College, as with other institutions, we see them all the time. > New Pre-Doctoral Fellows Program to Assist With Shifting Job Market Paradoxically, they seem to be most visible in the fall. > Peabody Hosts National Conference on Teacher Retirement Benefit Systems > Peabody Research Institute to Conduct First Assessment of Tennessee's We see them, for example, in the nine new faculty members who have joined our Pre-K Program Dean’s ranks, including two new endowed chair holders. This year’s hires underline existing > Peabody Welcomes New Faculty for 2009–2010 strengths in such areas as educational neuroscience, math and science education, > Peabody Receives Funding for Two New International Programs From Message and visual impairments. U.S. State Department > Vanderbilt Serving as Research Partner to New Tennessee Education Initiative Students are perennial green shoots. This year we have welcomed a bumper crop of > Notes and Honors new master’s students along with another class of truly outstanding doctoral students. Peabody’s population of graduate and professional students is at a modern high. 6 Findings > Cognitive Behavioral Program May Help Teens At Risk for Depression Our garden of research initiatives is also looking strong. Having weathered a great > Early Assessment of NYC's School-Wide Performance Bonus Program Released deal of climate change at the federal level, we were pleased to learn that external > Down Syndrome and Ethnicity funding for research in fiscal 2009 was six percent higher than the prior year. Par- > Black Church Participation up in Urban Areas; Family Programs, Economics ticularly significant were new grants for collaborations with schools to strengthen and Real-World Sermons Drive Attendance early childhood literacy and examine pre-K education. > Statewide Survey Finds Small Businesses Concerned About Health Care, Want Voice In Debate So where do we go from here? Without doubt, if these shoots are to thrive they will need watering. This year we are emphasizing rich learning experiences that occur 10 the word on writing both inside and outside the classroom. This includes developing communities of > New Studies Reveal Gaps in Writing Instruction and Preparation practice for our professional students and deepening our engagement with learners, to Teach Writing schools and organizations, both domestically and internationally. 12 KidTalk–Tactics As we work to nurture the distinctive qualities that make Peabody the exciting place > Project Offers Model Early Language Intervention it is, our watchwords for 2009–10 are relevance and rigor. As always, Ideas in Action will keep you posted. 14 texts > Developing Comprehensive Behavior Programs Developing Schoolwide Programs to Prevent and Manage Problem Behaviors: A Step-by-Step Approach > Schools Slipping Back to Segregation Camilla P. Benbow From the Courtroom to the Classroom: The Shifting Landscape of School Desegregation Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean of Education > More Recent Books by the Peabody College Faculty and Human Development 16 focus on faculty > College Awards Endowed Chairs to Six Faculty Members

2 Vanderbilt University, Peabody College Ideas in Action > Fall 2009 1 Peabody Columns

policy and elementary education pro- positions, and it is to our and to their Peabody hosts national The papers presented are available grams each ranked No. 5, its educational benefit to have them ready to be the conference on teacher on the NCPI Web site: psychology program was No. 7 and strongest candidates when those jobs retirement benefit www.performanceincentives.org/ Peabody Welcomes higher education administration No. 8. start opening up." systems conference/papers2009.asp. More than 80 experts convened at New Faculty for To learn more about the education "We are offering a competitive pro- Peabody to discuss and debate the 2009–2010 school rankings, visit grad-schools. gram for Ph.D. students who have controversial field of teacher retire- Peabody Research DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/ defended their dissertations and ment benefit systems at a conference Institute to conduct AND ORGANIZATIONAL best-graduate-schools. anticipate or may not be having February 19–20. The conference, co- first assessment of DEVELOPMENT success in the current job environ- hosted by the college’s National Center Tennessee's pre-k William L. Turner Betts Professor of ment," Craig Anne Heflinger, associate on Performance Incentives, drew scholars program Education and Human Development; New pre-doctoral fellows dean for graduate education and profes- from universities and research institutions Vanderbilt University’s new Peabody Ph.D.’90, Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Previously: University of program to assist with sor of human and organizational devel- across the country to discuss the design Research Institute and the Tennessee Minnesota Peabody shifting job market opment, said. "This would involve their and implications of teacher retirement Department of Education have This spring, Peabody inaugurated a announced a partnership to conduct staying on as Ph.D. students at Peabody systems used in the American K-12 DEPARTMENT OF LEADERSHIP, Columns competitive new Pre-Doctoral Fellows while working on further professional public education system. the first statewide evaluation of the POLICY AND ORGANIZATIONS Program to assist Peabody doctoral development." effectiveness of Tennessee’s Voluntary Mimi Engel Assistant Professor of candidates who are facing a difficult “The subject of teacher pensions is a Pre-K Program. The five-year, $6 million Public Policy and Education; Ph.D.’08, Peabody College university job market due to the The program will allow Ph.D. candidates critical and understudied area for educa- statewide scientific study is being funded Northwestern University ranked No. 1 in nation current economic climate. up to two years of additional study and tion reform, both because of the effects by a grant from the U.S. Department DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of involves full-time effort in four areas: on the teacher workforce and on school of Education’s Institute of Education AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT education and human development Districts are looking for new "Peabody doctoral candidates who are scholarship of teaching, research finance. Sciences. Sun-Joo Cho Assistant Professor of is the best graduate school of educa- ready to graduate and go on the job apprenticeship, systematic advanced ways to recruit and retain high quality Psychology; Ph.D.’07, University of tion in the nation, according to market for research university positions methods training and writing for teachers in their on-going efforts to The study will examine the effectiveness Georgia. Previously: post-doctoral rankings released in April by U.S. are facing a gap in university hiring," publication. In addition to the more raise student achievement and narrow of Tennessee’s pre-K program for enhancing scholar, University of California, Berkeley News & World Report. Camilla Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart advanced training, the fellows will achievement gaps, and the structure children’s readiness for kindergarten Joseph McLaughlin Associate Clinical Dean of Education and Human Develop- receive a monthly stipend, health of retirement benefits is a potentially and improving their achievement in Professor of Psychology; Ph.D.’79, The No. 1 ranking for Peabody is the ment, said. "Faculty positions that were insurance and activity fees. important factor,” Matthew Springer, later grades. The goal is to gather data Vanderbilt University. Previously: private practice highest ranking of a Vanderbilt graduate open last fall have been pulled off the NCPI director and research assistant in order to make informed decisions or professional school in the history of job market and many universities across More information on the pre-doctoral professor of public policy and education, concerning the program and to identify DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL the magazine's rankings. the country have frozen faculty hires or fellows program can be found at said. “Many states and districts also areas of improvement to increase its EDUCATION are cutting faculty positions. Peabody peabody.vanderbilt.edu/Office_of_ face increasing costs for their current overall quality. Laurie Cutting Patricia and Rodes “We are very pleased by this ranking, College has put a lot of resources into the_Dean/Pre-Doctoral_Fellows_ retirement benefit systems-possibly Hart Professor of Special Education; which speaks to the high quality of the mentoring these students for competitive Program.xml. exacerbated by recent developments in “We are very pleased to collaborate with Ph.D.’99, Northwestern University. college and especially our faculty, our the value of pension funds.” the state of Tennessee and its Office of Previously: Johns Hopkins University students and our staff,” said Camilla Early Learning on a project of this mag- Deborah D. Hatton Associate Professor Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean The conference, “Rethinking Teacher nitude. It has the potential to strengthen of Special Education; Ph.D.’95, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. of Education and Human Development. Retirement Benefit Systems,” was education policies and practices for Previously: Frank Porter Graham Child “Along with our alumni, who do great hosted jointly by NCPI, the Department Tennessee’s earliest learners and for Development Center, UNC work in the world, they are the ones of Education Reform at the University pre-kindergarten students across the to be congratulated.” of Arkansas and the University of nation,” Camilla Benbow, Patricia and DEPARTMENT OF TEACHING Missouri-Columbia. Rodes Hart Dean of Education and AND LEARNING The annual graduate school rankings are Human Development, said. Douglas Clark Associate Professor of based on expert opinions about program Science Education; Ph.D.’00, University of California, Berkeley. Previously: quality and statistical indicators that Arizona State University measure the quality of a school’s faculty, Ilana Horn Associate research and students. "We are offering a competitive program for Ph.D. Professor of Mathematics Education; Ph.D.’02, Peabody moved up one spot from its students who have defended their dissertations University of California, No. 2 ranking last year, and now sits and anticipate or may not be having success in the Berkeley. Previously: atop a list boasting Stanford, Columbia, University of Washington current job environment." —Craig Anne Heflinger (at right) Harvard and Johns Hopkins in the Top Pratim Sengupta Assistant 10. In addition to the overall ranking, Professor of Science Peabody’s programs in special education Education; Ph.D.’09, Northwestern University and administration/supervision were Above: Peabody welcomed its largest class of master's and doctoral students in recent each ranked No. 1. Peabody’s education history at an outdoor barbecue in August.

2 Vanderbilt University, Peabody College Ideas in Action > Fall 2009 3 Peabody Columns

Pre-K classes from across the state will Program has received fi ve-year grant Vanderbilt serVing as “Vanderbilt has been asked to serve as out of the commission’s work,” Camilla James Guthrie, Patricia and Rodes Hart participate in the study on a voluntary eligibility from the Institute of Inter- research Partner to the research partner for this innovative P. Benbow, Patricia and Rodes Hart Dean Professor of Educational Leadership and basis. Th e fi rst phase of the study began national Education. Fulbright Commis- new tennessee education eff ort.in this role, Peabody faculty of Education and Human Development, Policy, will serve as Vanderbilt’s primary in May. Th ere is no cost to the local sions from Latin America, Africa, the initiatiVe will have the opportunity to present said in an e-mail announcement to liaison to the collaborative. education agencies or parents involved Middle East, and Asia will nominate Vanderbilt has joined a collaboration research on current education chal- Peabody College faculty. in the process. eight Humphrey Scholars for 10 months organized by former u.s. senate lenges and initiatives and to provide More information is available at of non-degree study and professional majority leader bill Frist that seeks input on action plans that may arise tennesseescore.org. for more information about PrI, visit development in the United States. to make education a top priority for peabody.vanderbilt.edu/Peabody_ tennessee. Th e State Collaborative research_institute.xml. Th e Distinguished Fulbright Awards in on Reforming Education (SCORE), Teaching Program, another new Peabody a nonpartisan initiative, hopes to jump- at left: Tennessee classrooms may international program, received funding start education reform eff orts across get a boost as a result of a new state Peabody receiVes through the Academy for Education the state. Vanderbilt is serving as a collaboration aimed at school reform. funding for two new Development with an annual renewable research partner. below: James Guthrie international Programs contract. Twelve recipients of Fulbright from u.s. state dePartment Distinguished Teacher awards from To underscore its signifi cance as well with funding from the u.s. state Argentina, Finland, India, Israel, Singa- as its breadth, Frist was joined at the department and Vanderbilt’s pore and South Africa will participate announcement by Gov. Phil Bredesen, international offi ce, two new programs in a non-credit semester-long program Tennessee Commissioner of Education will bring international scholars to at Peabody. Tim Webb, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean Peabody this fall, according to xiu and other education, community, Cravens, assistant dean of international Information about Peabody’s offi ce political and business leaders, including affairs and research assistant professor. of International Affairs can be found Vanderbilt representatives. at peabody.vanderbilt.edu/interna- Th e Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship tional_affairs.xml.

outstanding teachers and education scholars from "vanderbilt has been asked to serve as the research partner for this innovative around the world are studying at Peabody this fall effort. In this role, Peabody faculty will have the opportunity to present research through the Hubert H. Humphrey fellowship and on current education challenges and initiatives and to provide input on action Distinguished fulbright Awards in teaching programs. plans that may arise out of the commission’s work.” —Camilla P. Benbow

Notes and Honors stephen n. elliott robert Jiménez Christopher P. loss, assistant professor maury nation was promoted to associate the Council for exceptional Children’s Camilla P. benbow, Patricia and rodes darcy Freedman, Ph.D.’08, has received the National institute of Child health and professor of human and organizational Hart Dean of education and Human the “Best Dissertation on a topic relevant human Development and the National of public policy and higher education, Division of learning Disabilities for development. Development, was elected to the to Community Psychology award” from institute of literacy. received the outstanding Dissertation “the Predictive Utility of Kindergarten executive Committee of the National Division 27 of the american Psychological award from the Politics in education Screening for math Diffi culty: how, Kimberly Paulsen, associate professor Science Board at its may meeting in association. freedman is assistant James w. guthrie, Patricia and rodes association. When, and With respect to What of the practice in special education, arlington, virginia. professor in the College of Social Work Hart Professor of educational leadership outcome Should it occur?” at the University of South Carolina. and Policy, has received the Distinguished david lubinski, professor of psychology, received the Peabody award for erik Carter, Ph.D.’04, was awarded the Service award from the american educa- received a meNSa award for research excellence in advising and Service. 2009 early Career research award from ellen goldring, Patricia and rodes Hart tion finance association. excellence (Senior investigator award) the Council for exceptional Children’s chair, has been appointed chair of the Victoria J. risko, professor of education, Craig anne hefl inger, associate dean for for his article, “tracking exceptional Division for research. Carter is assistant Department of leadership, Policy and was elected vice president/president professor in the Department of rehabili- organizations. graduate education, was promoted to human Capital over two Decades,” in elect of the international reading tation Psychology and Special education professor of human and organizational Psychological Science (2006). Camilla association. at the University of Wisconsin-madison. steve graham, currey Ingram Professor development. P. Benbow, rose mary Webb, and april of special education, has begun service Bleske-rechek were co-authors. stephen n. elliott, Dunn family Profes- on the National research Council’s adult robert Jiménez, professor of language, megan saylor was promoted to sor of educational and Psychological literacy Panel. graham and Karen harris, literacy and culture, has been elected associate professor of psychology. Joseph F. murphy, frank W. Mayborn Assessment, has received the Senior who shares the currey Ingram Profes- president of the National reading Scientist award from Division 16 of the sorship, also have agreed to serve as Conference. Professor, is the fi rst recipient of the Pamela seethaler, M.ed.’94, Ph.D.’08, american Psychological association. members of an expert Working group on excellence in research award from research associate, received the Development and Writing instruction for aera’s Division for administration, outstanding Dissertation award from Karen Harris organization and leadership.

4 Vanderbilt University, Peabody College IDeAs In ActIon > Fall 2009 5 Findings

early assessment behavior group program, in which they experiencing problems. Making these oF nyC's sChoolwide were taught problem-solving skills and services available to families in the same PerFormanCe bonus ways to identify and challenge unreal- setting, likely would facilitate their Program released istic and overly negative thoughts. Th e receiving them.” researchers found that the group in the early data from a project evaluating cognitive behavior program had an 11 Only about 25 percent of depressed the fi rst-year impact of new york percent lower incidence of depression youth receive treatment and at least 20 City's performance pay program, than the group that did not receive the percent develop recurrent, persistent and the school-wide Performance bonus intervention. chronic depression that is very diffi cult to Program (sPbP), fi nds no discernable treat. Teenagers who experience depres- impact on student achievement thus Th e second key fi nding was that those sions can have trouble with schoolwork, far. However, the report's authors within the cognitive behavior group who relationships, substance abuses and are caution that it is too soon to draw had a currently depressed parent were at higher risk of suicide. Adolescent- any overall conclusions about the Findings three times more likely to experience a onset depression also often predicts program's impact. bout of depression than their cohorts in chronic depression in adulthood. the group who did not have a currently "Our analysis did not reveal a signifi cant depressed parent. Th e study took place at four sites: impact on student profi ciency or school Vanderbilt University, University of environment. However, it is important “Current parental depression could Pittsburgh, Kaiser Permanente Center to note that this working paper can only CognitiVe behaVioral be a marker for several, non-mutually for Health Research in Portland, Oregon, address the short-run eff ects of the are then allocated to teachers and "since the program was not imple- Program may helP exclusive factors such as higher levels of and Judge Baker Children’s Center/Chil- program," report co-author Matthew administrators by compensation com- mented until halfway through the teens at risK For stress in the family, more chronic or se- dren’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Springer, director of the National Center mittees at each school composed of the 2007-08 school year, and data for dePression: effect not vere parental depression, and/or greater on Performance Incentives at Vanderbilt school principal, an individual appointed this study come from the 2006-07 seen in teens with currently depressed genetic vulnerability,” Garber said. “It is for more information and video University and a research assistant by the principal and two staff members. and 2007-08 school years, the results parent. New research reveals that a likely that a combination of these and on this study from JAMA, visit professor of public policy and education, of this paper should be treated as cognitive behavioral program for teens other factors are involved. We are in the www.jamamedia.org. said. "We anticipate being able to provide Th e new report evaluates the impact of a baseline for subsequent analysis at risk of depression may help prevent process of examining possible correlates more meaningful information about the SPBP on student achievement in math- of the impact of the sPbP on student future depressive episodes. However, of current parental depression.” impact when data become available from ematics during the program's fi rst year outcomes, teacher behavior and the program did not show benefi ts for the 2008-09 school year." as well as the program's eff ect on schooling practices," the authors said. teens with a currently depressed parent. garber and her colleagues suggest student, parent and teacher perception clinicians working with depressed Marcus Winters, a senior fellow at the of the school's learning environment. "A second-year evaluation of the program, Th e research by Judy Garber, professor parents should also inquire about their Manhattan Institute, co-authored which will provide fuller and more reliable of psychology and psychiatry, was pub- children’s well-being, and vice versa. the paper. Th e report did not fi nd a discernible data, is forthcoming." lished in the June 3 issue of the Journal impact on student academic achievement of the American Medical Association. “Clinicians working with depressed Implemented midway into the 2007- in mathematics following the fi rst year for more information on the Garber presented the fi ndings at a JAMA parents should ask about how their 2008 school year, the School-Wide of a school's participation in the program. national center on Performance media briefi ng in New York City June 2. children are doing. Similarly, clinicians Performance Bonus Program rewards Furthermore, the authors report no Incentives at vanderbilt University, working with depressed youth should schools for meeting performance targets signifi cant impact of SPBP on student, visit www.performanceincentives.org. Garber and her colleagues worked with evaluate the parents for depression,” established under New York City's parent and teacher perceptions of the 316 at-risk teens in the study. Approxi- Garber said. “Referrals to appropriate progress reports program. Th e funds school’s learning environment. mately half of the teens were randomly service providers should be made if the robert Hodapp richard Urbano assigned to an eight-week cognitive children or parents, respectively, are

Down Syndrome and Ethnicity African-American mothers of newborns support services for A Vanderbilt Kennedy Center study education, and Richard Urbano, research Syndrome. they looked at mother’s age with Down Syndrome were of lower african-american mothers of mothers of newborns with Down professor of pediatrics. when the infant was born, education socioeconomic levels and were younger, specifi cally, and young syndrome (DS) shows a need for health levels of mothers, marital status of with many more African-American mothers generally, who care and social services policies to ad- Little research has been done on ethnic/ mothers, and neighborhood median mothers giving birth at 23 years or give birth to children dress diff erences related to ethnicity/ racial diff erences among mothers of income. younger. In both groups, the young high school show greater support needs, with down syndrome, which is race and age of mothers. Th e study, young children with Down Syndrome. mothers had the highest percentage of even as they are less likely to know about often accompanied by an array of which appeared in the September 2008 Th e researchers used offi cial Tennessee Th ey found diff erences between African- women who had not graduated from and to make use of available services. health issues. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intel- birth records from 1990 to 2002 to American mothers and mothers of high school and who were unmarried. lectual Disabilities, was conducted by examine ethnic/racial diff erences among European-heritage descent. Compared From earlier studies, mothers who are these fi ndings point to the need for for more information on the vanderbilt Robert Hodapp, professor of special mothers of young children with Down with European-heritage mothers, unmarried and who have not graduated targeted health care and social Kennedy center visit kc.vanderbilt.edu

6 Vanderbilt University, Peabody College IDeAs In ActIon > Fall 2009 7 Findings

blaCK ChurCh Statewide Survey Finds Small Businesses Concerned PartiCiPation uP in urban areas; About Health Care, Want Voice in Debate Family Programs, eConomiCs and With health care on the national agenda, responsibility to off er health coverage to Business Majority; “Consumer Voices real-world a recent survey suggests that Tennes- employees. On that question, responses for Coverage,” a national program of the sermons driVe see’s small businesses share many of the diff ered depending on whether or not Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and attendanCe concerns held nationally. the business currently off ered coverage. Community Catalyst; and the Center for Fifty-three percent of those currently Community Studies. while only half of tennessee small providing coverage believed a business Churches with predominantly black businesses offer health insurance to had a responsibility to do so, compared the full report is available at: congregations are thriving in urban and their employees, nearly all agree it is to 32 percent of those that do not. peabody.vanderbilt.edu/Center_for_ suburban areas, and the most successful time to pay attention to health care Community_studies.xml. churches employ a variety of sophisti- reform and want to be involved in the Choice between public and private plans cated marketing and programming strat- debate, a new survey indicates. was favored by a majority of respondents. egies to draw members, a new study by Many reported fears that a single public Sandra Barnes, professor of human and Th e survey was conducted by Craig plan would result in lower quality of care organizational development, fi nds. Anne Hefl inger, professor of human and and higher costs. In addition, a majority other Key Findings inClude: organizational development; Marielle of respondents expressed concerns Th e report, "Enter into his gates: An Lovecchio, a master’s student majoring about private insurance companies • 81 percent of respondents believed analysis of black church participation in community development and action; and wanted more federal oversight congress did not pay attention to patterns," was published in the March Jill Robinson, doctoral student in com- of them. small business owners. issue of the journal Sociological Spec- munity research and action; and Lori trum. Th e report examines changes in Smith, of the Tennessee Small Business Th e authors mailed surveys to 3,000 • 61 percent believed health care adult church participation rates from Coalition. businesses in Tennessee that employ reform will “help our economy get 1995 to 2000 based on a national survey 50 or fewer employees in March 2009, back on track.” of 1,863 predominantly black churches “Small business owners report that their with 245 responding within 60 days. Th e across seven Christian denominations. businesses are struggling with health businesses were randomly selected from • 81 percent believed “all Americans It is the fi rst study to use a national care costs, they anticipate even more the Dun and Bradstreet “Million Dollar must have access to affordable, sample of black congregations to exam- challenges in this area in the future, and Database.” Th e respondents represented quality health care coverage.” ine this issue. that health care reform is a way to get Tennessee’s three grand divisions, with the economy back on track,” the authors slightly more than half located in urban • 93 percent said businesses need barnes found that today’s parishioners wrote in the survey report. areas and nearly half working in retail/ quality health plans with predictable are "religiously savvy" and expect wholesale, restaurant/food industry, costs. more from their church service, such A majority of those surveyed agreed construction and industrial/manufac- as sermons and bible studies relevant that all Americans should have access to turing businesses. Th irty-eight percent • 74 percent said insurers, business, to everyday life, activities for indi- quality health care coverage and should employed 10 or fewer employees. individuals and the government viduals and families, and innovative must share responsibility to make “the broader societal experienced greater participation than not lose that coverage due to illness, worship services that incorporate those that did not. In addition, those age or changing jobs, but less than half Th e research was supported with fund- affordable health careAFFORDABILITY coverage dance and music. change we have seen in churches with sound fi nancial health (44 percent) agreed businesses have a ing and other resources by the Small widely available. consumerism is also experienced higher participation, as FOR ALL % IN AGREEMENT "Th e broader societal change we have manifesting in the religious did larger churches when compared seen in consumerism is also manifest- arena. We expect more, with smaller churches. ing in the religious arena. We expect bigger and better… more, bigger and better," Barnes said. overall, urban and suburban black My business is struggling to afford health coverage As in the retail environment, churches grew approximately fi ve "As in the retail environment, today's Businesses need quality health plans church goers are savvy shoppers. Th ey today's church goers are percent from 1995 to 2000, while with predictable costs are looking for a worship experience savvy shoppers." participation in rural black churches Private insurers, businesses, individuals & the that meets their needs and programs dropped. government must all share the responsibility & cost that meet their needs, and they’re willing to shop around to fi nd it." television ads and prime time exposure Th e report was based on data drawn from all play a role. Churches are using very a national database maintained from "Successful churches are very savvy intentional marketing strategies and the Faith Factor 2000 Project, a joint AFFORDABILITY when it comes to marketing. Word of much of it relies on technology." venture between the Lilly Foundation and mouth continues to be an important the Interdenominational Th eological FOR ALL Th e survey showed high agreement tool, but it is no longer the primary Churches that focused on and generated Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Th e Gallup % IN AGREEMENT with three items focusing on aff ordability. mechanism," Barnes said. "Web sites, excitement about their own future Organization conducted the surveys.

8 Vanderbilt University, Peabody College My business is struggling to afford health coverage IDeAs In ActIon > Fall 2009 9 Businesses need quality health plans with predictable costs Private insurers, businesses, individuals & the government must all share the responsibility & cost The Word on Writing

In "A Meta-Analysis of Single Subject Design Writing Interven- student in special education at the University of Maryland when tion Research," Graham and Leslie Rogers, a current doctoral the research was conducted and currently a teacher in Florida, assign complex writing tasks. Vanderbilt Peabody professor Steve student in special education, identified effective writing practices provides more direct recommendations to improve classroom Graham, along with Sharlene A. Kiuhara of the University of for all students, including students who struggle within the writing practices. Utah, conducted the survey and detailed the results in a February classroom. This research focuses on the current writing practices issue of the Journal of Educational Psychology. in grades 1 through 12. "Primary grade teachers need to focus on increasing the time spent writing, balancing the time spent writing with the time “The lack of writing and writing instruction was more pro- "Among the more important findings is the need for students to spent learning how to write, boosting their students' motiva- nounced in social studies and science, but even language arts be taught how to plan, revise and set clear and specific goals for tion for writing, making computers a more integral part of teachers provided little writing instruction for their students,” their writing," Graham said. "Students also need to be taught the their writing curriculum, and improving their own preparation Graham, Currey Ingram Professor of Special Education, said. skills to write clear and effective paragraphs." for teaching writing," Graham said. "These recommendations “Another disturbing finding was the sizable number of teachers offer educators the opportunity to focus on their weakest areas to who made few or no adaptations in their teaching efforts to Graham's other paper, "Primary Grade Writing Instruction: improve instruction and the quality of student writers produced assist weaker writers.” A National Survey," co-authored with Laura Cutler, a graduate in our classrooms." l

According to the results, teachers rarely ask high school students to complete assignments that involve writing more than a single paragraph, and most common writing assignments involve little By Melanie Moran and Kurt Brobeck to no analysis or interpretation. Some teachers reported using p e a b o d y s h a r r i s h e a d s writing c a m p By Laura Braam a variety of effective writing practices, but indicated that the use ' Currey Ingram Academy Lower School We really saw this as a win-win for both Claxton said. “Writing is often wrapped was infrequent, removing their effectiveness. Division Head Jane Hannah wanted to organizations,” Harris said. into reading instruction in elementary offer a camp that would help both strug- school. This does not always leave ample The camp was held in June, with six gling and competent young writers con- time for writing work—especially for “Writing is an important tool for educational, occupational and instructors teaching 15 campers in grades tinue to move forward with their skills; students who may struggle with reading. social success,” Graham said. “Writing instruction needs to be 3–5. The daily schedule began with a yet, she did not have a curriculum for It was great to have the chance to offer reformed to improve high school student work as well as morning meeting and a group sentence- a two-week camp of this kind. this much continuous work on written combining activity. Students then broke strengthening the ability for success in college and beyond.” expression for this age group.” She knew where to turn. into small groups to work on SRSD report-writing skills. Every day, campers Claxton said that the SRSD method of Hannah approached Karen Harris, Currey had the chance to sit in the “Author’s goal-setting, monitoring and creating Ingram Professor of Special Education Chair” and share their work with peers. self-instructions helped campers guide at Peabody College. Harris had recently r e f o r m i n g writing instruction Campers also were coached about ways their own work and is an approach that taught a writing class to Currey Ingram to provide appropriate peer feedback. can help them across other content According to Graham, writing instruction reform must parents and has collaborated with school Students would then rotate through cre- areas in school. “We were so fortunate to be multi-faceted. administrators on a number of other ative writing classes that would include partner with Dr. Harris and her team and projects. Harris often teaches writing poetry writing, story writing and comic to see their methods in action,” Claxton strategies to students and teachers in “Students need to be engaged in writing longer compositions strip creation. Throughout the camp, added. “We incorporate a lot of SRSD area public schools. that involve analysis and interpretation; teachers should apply students set their own goals. strategies in our curriculum—but this “Karen is at the top of her field,” Hannah camp really took it to another level.” evidence-based writing practices and adaptations for struggling “The kids loved the comic strip writing— said. “Her self-regulated strategy deve- writers; teacher education programs and school districts need to even those who do not like to write,” Currey Ingram Academy is a K-12 college lopment [SRSD] approach is proven ith all the attention paid to math and science better prepare teachers for writing instruction at the high school preparatory school for students with to work for students with a variety of average to superior intelligence who over the last several years, one might be forgiven level,” he said. “All of these recommendations should be tailored backgrounds and challenges. I knew she reach their fullest potential in a person- for forgetting that learning to write remains a to meet the needs of each major discipline.” would be the ideal expert to help us alized learning environment, such as necessary precondition for educational and profes- design the camp.” those with ADHD, dyslexia and other sional success in any discipline. The National Commission Graham’s survey found that 71 percent of high school teachers Harris and doctoral students Karin Sandmel language-based learning differ- on Writing has described writing as a “threshold skill” critical received minimal to no preparation to teach writing in college. and Michael Hebert began working with ences. More information is available to obtaining and keeping employment. Forty-four percent also reported low levels of in-service training. Hannah and Lower School Assistant online at www.curreyingram.org. Perhaps unsurprisingly, language arts teachers reported feeling Division Head Christina Claxton in the early spring. “We were excited about the To learn more about SRSD The public also sees writing as important. In an opinion poll more prepared to teach writing than did science or social studies opportunity to do this as a pilot project writing strategies, visit hobbs. published this year by the National Writing Project, 80 percent of teachers. and as an extension of our other work. vanderbilt.edu/projectwrite. respondents believed that writing is more important than in the past. With the development of new media, in fact, many Ameri- Writing instruction also needs to begin early. In addition to the cans are writing more—via web sites, e-mail, blogs, and social survey of high school teachers, Graham conducted two studies to media. Yet 40 percent of respondents were “less than totally sat- offer guidance for primary teachers to help them improve writing isfied” with their own writing skills, and only 17 percent believed instruction and develop stronger student writers. These studies t h r o u g h o u t t h e c a m p , s t u d e n t s that students graduating from high school have the writing skills were published last November in the Journal of Educational required for college. Psychology. s e t t h e i r o w n g o a l s . Even teachers seem to agree. In a new national survey of high We're hoping to help give teachers the opportunity to cre- school writing instruction, 50 percent of teachers reported they atively incorporate effective writing strategies in the class- t h e k i d s l o v e d t h e c o m i c s t r i p writing room to improve the writing of their students," Graham said. “ — are not prepared to teach students how to write well and rarely e v e n t h o s e w h o d o n o t l i k e t o w r i t e ,” 10 Vanderbilt University, Peabody College 11 KidTalk-Tactics

"Th ese centers represent the next step in translat- of informal activities and children’s interest by modeling lan- "Typical early childhood intervention can be fragmented,” said ing research into practice," said Kaiser. "It is guage and being responsive to communication attempts—for Kaiser. “Kids move from one teacher to another or to diff erent important to have gotten to the point where example, to teach the word "more" when a child is asking for therapists each year. Continuity of intervention can be opti- you are taking a well-researched interven- a cookie. For some parents, focusing on these activities helps mized in places like Susan Gray and High Hopes where staff s tion out into the community." Kaiser and them see ways their children already communicate. "A lot of know their kids and their communication needs. If we provide her colleagues have been working on what we help parents do is to see that children are commu- continuous communication intervention in these early years, naturalistic communication intervention nicating even when they don't have language yet. We are so we can get kids to someplace they wouldn't get in typical with young children for many years and happy to jump start that communication," Kaiser said. interventions.” have published about 40 papers related to this intervention. "Th is project represents Over the course of four to fi ve months, 24 sessions are held suPPort For Families where we are as a fi eld with naturalistic in the home. Sessions are videotaped and coded so that each Parents, as well as their children are benefi ting communication intervention," she said. child's progress may be monitored. Video captured at the from KTTP. As Kaiser observes, "Th ese families FSU site is uploaded to Vanderbilt and coded as well. Over are very stressed. Th ey've just had a baby who KidTalk-Tactics provides a continuous commu- time, the pooled data will create an important resource for happens to have a disability. Th ey don't know yet what the By Kurt Brobeck nication intervention for children from infancy training special educators, teachers, and parents, as well. future looks like for that baby. Th ese young kids are usually until age fi ve. Most of the children who participate Because it provides actual samples of saying, signing, gesturing, in multiple therapies. Th ere is a lot going on for these families, are enrolled between 12 and 18 months of age. In all, or play, video also has become an important tool for assessing and the parents are trying to fi gure out the service delivery forty children and their families in the Nashville area will a child's progress. system. In addition to teaching parents how to support com- receive the intervention. An additional 30 children and their munication, a lot of what our communication coaches do is Life with toddlers can be stressful, all the more so for parents families at the Florida site complement the Nashville group. Beyond the home, Kaiser's team works with the caregivers, reassure parents, empower them, and help them work their of young children with disabilities. For parents of infants teachers, and therapists in a child's life to ensure that the way through the feelings about what is going on in their lives. with Down Syndrome, a chronic health condition, or another a naturalistiC intervention is seamlessly applied. "Th e idea is that within One of our biggest tasks with parents is to show them that signifi cant impairment, among the many questions that arise language interVention the fi rst six or eight months, we've trained many of the signifi - everyday interactions with their children can still be fun even is, "Is my child going to talk?" For these parents, Vanderbilt Kaiser's team focuses on the home as the most cant adults in that child's life to do similar things to support when children have disabilities." Peabody professor Ann Kaiser has some reassuring words: "We logical environment for supporting commu- the child's communications development," Kaiser said. She assume that every child is going to communicate in ways that nication with such young children. She and her staff of early and her colleagues are training staff at Peabody's Susan Gray for more on Ann Kaiser’s Kidtalk-tactics project visit: other people can understand them. It may be speaking, it may childhood special educators begin by visiting the home to School, an inclusive early childhood program, and at High peabody.vanderbilt.edu/lsi_Projects/KidtalK_ be signing, or it might be using an augmentative communica- teach parents strategies that have been core to her research on Hopes, an inclusive preschool in Nashville's suburban taCtiCs_Project_home.xml l tion device. We're going to stay with that child and that family Enhanced Milieu Teaching. Th e techniques are applied during Williamson County. until we are sure the child is on track for being able to commu- the course of routine activities in any child's life: during meals, nicate with others." while playing, at bath time, when reading stories and getting ready for bed. "We're not asking them to do things they don't "in addition to teaching parents hoW Kaiser, who holds the Susan Gray Chair in Education and already do. However, we do teach them ways to incorporate to support coMMunication, a lot of Human Development, is in the second year of a four-year teaching their children to project to develop and demonstrate a model naturalistic communicate during What our coMMunication coaches do language intervention for children who are identifi ed with these daily events," is reassure parents, eMpoWer theM, needs very early in their lives. Her KidTalk-Tactics Project Kaiser said. (KTTP) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Offi ce and help theM WorK their Way of Special Education Programs. Terry Hancock, research assis- Th is principle of through the feelings about tant professor of special education, and Juliann Woods, chair "teach it where What is going on in their lives." of the Department of Communication Disorders at Florida children will use State University, are co-investigators. KTTP is one of three it" is central to centers nationally charged with developing model programs naturalistic lan- for naturalistic communication interventions for children age guage interven- birth-to-fi ve and their families, caregivers, and teachers. Other tion. Parents centers are located at the University of Kansas and the Orelena are trained to Managing IDEA Transitions Hawks Puckett Institute in Morganton, North Carolina. take advantage Kidtalk–tactics spans two different legally Because children are reassessed mandated service delivery systems. at the time of transition, service Under the individuals with Disabilities delivery can be slowed. "our goals are "it is iMportant to have gotten to education act, children from birth to to teach parents strategies to support age two receive what are known as Part communication and to help families the point Where you are taKing a Well- C early intervention services. When the ensure continuity in their children's children turn three, they transition to communication intervention," said researched intervention out into Part B, with services typically provided Professor ann Kaiser. "We'll be part of the coMMunity." by the local school system. the transition planning, and we'll set up from the beginning to be a consultant to that teacher and the therapists in the new setting."

12 Vanderbilt University, Peabody College IDeAs In ActIon > Fall 2009 13 Texts

oping a comprehensive primary preven- “As the return to neighborhood schools classroom and school, and at school • Examine the aftermath of deseg- for all students. Student assignment tion program that addresses academic, accelerates, schools resegregate, and district and national levels. What do regation, including both social and policies represent some of the most behavioral and social domains.” magnet programs assume new roles, this patterns of achievement among white, academic outcomes, against the grow- complex and controversial decisions book provides timely information on African American and Latino students ing evidence of resegregation across made by local school boards across the Through a series of questions and critical social and academic outcomes for suggest regarding the impact of these urban school districts in the United country,” Smrekar and Goldring said. instructions, school personnel are led children,” Smrekar said. new policies? States. Does race matter? What is “It is our hope that this data may pro- through the foundations of planning, the role of expanded school choice vide essential guideposts for districts implementing and evaluating a primary School desegregation, once a central • Scrutinize the conditions in school programs (e.g., magnet schools) under considering the consequences of unitary prevention program designed to prevent piece of social and educational policy, districts that served as landmark legal these conditions? status under the more restrictive new the development of challenging behav- has been ended by an increasing number cases in the march toward desegrega- legal constraints regarding the use of iors and respond to existing cases of of federal courts in recent years in urban tion in the United States. What is the This book makes compelling the need to race. This book is designed to highlight problem behavior. school districts. When desegregation impact of new student assignment connect the imperatives of new policies the short- and long-term implications polices are removed, schools are desig- plans on racial and socio-economic on race and schooling to the practices of of these decisions for schoolchildren, Texts The book includes extensive forms, nated as “unitary,” which means they are segregation/integration patterns in educational leaders facing the demands their families and communities.” resources and instructions that walk the expected to implement a variety of poli- these historically significant districts? of diversity, equity, choice and excellence reader through every step of the process. cies focusing on school improvement, In addition, it offers a research-based school choice and neighborhood schools, view of the topic and details studies that among other alternatives. Racial balanc- Developing Comprehensive examined the effectiveness of schooling of schools is no longer a priority. Behavior Programs wide interventions designed to promote Developing Schoolwide Programs positive student behavior and improve “The significance of this book is rooted to Prevent and Manage Problem academic performance. in the need for a better understanding Behaviors: A Step-by-Step Approach— of new policies on race and schools, the Kathleen Lynne Lane, Jemma Robertson Lane is an investigator in the Vander- social and political context of choice, and Kalberg, and Holly Mariah Menzies; bilt Kennedy Center and the Vanderbilt the consequences of these reform strate- Guilford Press, 2009 Learning Sciences Institute. Kalberg is gies for school systems in urban America More Recent Books Many schools across the nation struggle a special education teacher at Seneca and for the lives of educators, students in their efforts to deal with challenging Center in San Leandro, Calif., and Men- and their families,” Goldring said. by the Peabody behaviors. A new book co-authored by zies is an associate professor of special Kathleen Lane, associate professor of education at California State University, The book comes on the heels of the June "The significance of this book is rooted in the need for a better College Faculty special education, aims to help schools Los Angeles. 28, 2007, U.S. Supreme Court decision understanding of new policies on race and schools, the social develop a comprehensive strategy to (Parents Involved in Community Schools and political context of choice, and the consequences of The SAGE Handbook of Applied Social identify and help students with behavior v. Seattle School District No. 1 and Research Methods; Leonard Bickman Schools Slipping Back to these reform strategies…” and D. J. Rog, Sage, 2009 issues before violence erupts. Crystal D. Meredith v. Jefferson County Segregation —Ellen B. Goldring (Co-editor of From the Courtroom to the Classroom) Board of Education) that limits the Learning and the Infant Mind; The book,Developing Schoolwide Programs From the Courtroom to the Classroom: use of race in student assignment and Amanda Woodward and Amy Needham, to Prevent and Manage Problem Behaviors: The Shifting Landscape of School school choice plans. Oxford University Press, 2009 Desegregation— Claire E. Smrekar, A Step-by-Step Approach, is co-authored Peer Support Strategies for Improving by Jemma Robertson Kalberg and Ellen B. Goldring, eds.; Harvard The book focuses on four key objectives: All Students’ Social Lives and Learning; Holly Menzies. It translates years of Education Press, 2009 • Identify a set of important trends in E. W. Carter, L. S. Cushing and Craig H. classroom research into a manual for Urban school districts across the the socio-demographic composition Kennedy, Paul H. Brookes Publishing school administrators and teachers country have shifted back to managing of schools following the end of court- Co., Inc., 2009 wishing to create positive behavior segregated schools following the recent ordered desegregation. How have support programs in K–12 settings lifting of court-ordered desegregation districts responded to the end of court- with an overall goal of improving plans, a new book finds. ordered desegregation plans in terms At Left: The Nashville Education Summit, held on the Vanderbilt academic, social and behavior of student and staff assignment? What Campus on August 14, featured remarks outcomes for all students. The book, From the Courtroom to the priorities drive the new district policies by Mayor Karl Dean; Assist. Deputy Classroom: The Shifting Landscape of on racial and socio-economic desegre- Secretary of Education, Jim Shelton; “Each school is unique. Rather than School Desegregation, was edited by gation and student assignment? How former Senate Majority Leader, Dr. Bill offering a canned curriculum, this Claire Smrekar, associate professor of will the PICS opinion shape district Frist; and Governor Phil Bredesen. Shown (l–r) are Gov. Bredesen and book helps schools explore a variety of public policy and education, and Ellen policies in the future? Mayor Dean. options to craft a plan that addresses Goldring, Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair their particular needs,” Lane said. “Also, and professor of education policy and • Explore the implications of new poli- rather than just focusing on behavior in leadership, and published by Harvard cies on race and school choice across isolation, we provide a guide for devel- Education Press. multiple levels and contexts, including

14 Vanderbilt University, Peabody College Ideas in Action > Fall 2009 15 Contacts

o n in program evaluation and research on mental health services Dean Fo c u s for children and adolescents. He has published more than 15 Camilla P. Benbow books and monographs and 180 articles and chapters. [email protected]

David Cole, Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair. Associate Dean for External relations Fa c u l t y Cole is chair of the Department of Psychology and Professional Education and Human Development, professor of Timothy C. Caboni College Awards Endowed psychology and an investigator in the [email protected] Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Professor Chairs to Six Faculty Cole’s scholarly interests encompass Editor developmental psychopathology and childhood depression. Kurt Brobeck, Director of Communications Members He also studies the assessment of childhood disorders and [email protected] the prediction of adolescent suicide. Contributors Ellen Goldring, Patricia and Rodes Hart Camilla P. Benbow, Laura Braam, Jennie Edwards, Camilla Chair. Goldring is professor of educational Meek, Melanie Moran, Jan Rosemergy policy and leadership and incoming chair of the Department of Leadership, Policy Photography & Illustration and Organizations. Her research focuses Joel Anderson, Neil Brake, Daniel Dubois, Steve Green, on the changing roles of school leaders Wolf Hoffman, Dan Loftin, Tony Maupin, Edward Patton and on understanding and shaping reform efforts that connect families, communities and schools. She is co-editor of a new Design book, From the Courtroom to the Classroom: The Shifting Amy Olert, Anderson Design Group Landscape of School Desegregation (see page 14). AndersonDesignGroup.com

James W. Guthrie (featured at left), Patricia and Rodes Hart Chair of Educational Leadership and Policy. Guthrie is professor of public policy and education, director of the Peabody Center for Education Policy, executive director of the National Center For additional information about Vanderbilt University’s on Performance Incentives and former chair of the Department Peabody College of education and human development, of Leadership, Policy and Organizations. Professor Guthrie is visit peabody.vanderbilt.edu. a widely acknowledged expert on school finance, legal issues Office of the Dean of equity and adequacy, and education reform strategies. Peabody College his spring marked 30 years since Peabody College Peabody #620 merged with Vanderbilt University. To celebrate the Rich Lehrer, Frank W. Mayborn Chair. 230 Appleton Place anniversary, Vanderbilt awarded six new named Lehrer is professor of science education. Nashville, Tennessee 37203-5721 endowed chairs to Peabody faculty members at the He is an internationally recognized scholar college’s spring faculty meeting on May 5. in the field of mathematics and science T Design © 2009 Anderson Design Group education. Professor Lehrer conducts Copyright © 2009 Vanderbilt University “The six professors receiving these chairs are high-impact his research in direct partnership with Additional Photography © iStock International Inc., Shutterstock Images LLC individuals who make important contributions to the practice kindergarten through middle school teachers, applying Non-Discrimination Statement of education or psychology,” Camilla Benbow, Patricia and knowledge of young children's thinking about space and In compliance with federal law, including the provisions of Title IX of the Education Rodes Hart Dean of Education and Human Development, said. geometry to teach mathematic and scientific concepts built Amendments of 1972, sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Vanderbilt University does not “Rewarding them with an endowed chair is our way of recogniz- upon everyday experiences. discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethic origin, age, ing their accomplishments and of signifying to the world that disability, or military service in its administration of education policies, programs, Joseph F. Murphy, or activities; its admissions policies; scholarship and loan programs; athletic or other Peabody is a place where great intellects gather and interact.” Frank W. Mayborn University-administered programs; or employment. In addition, the University does Chair. Murphy is professor of education not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, consistent with University non- Nineteen Peabody faculty members currently hold endowed and associate dean. He is a nationally discrimination policy. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to the Opportunity Development Officer, Baker Building, Box 1809 Station B, Nashville, Tennessee chairs. The new chairs were awarded to: recognized scholar in the field of school 37235. Telephone (615) 322-4705; Fax (61) 421-6871. administration and a leading advocate for “Vanderbilt” and the Vanderbilt logo are registered trademarks and service marks Leonard Bickman, Betts Chair. Bickman school leadership reforms. He has authored of Vanderbilt University. is professor of psychology and psychiatry, or co-authored 15 books and two major monographs in this director of the Center for Evaluation and area and edited another 12 books. He is currently chairing Program Improvement, and an investigator a steering committee for a National Board for Professional in the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Professor Teaching Standards effort to develop an advanced certification Bickman is a nationally recognized leader for educational leaders.

16 Vanderbilt University, Peabody College Ideas in Action > Fall 2009 17