Socially isolated, highly stressed parents are more likely to abuse or neglect their children than are their more sociable, serene peers. Research also suggests that a strong social network can have a buffering effect on the corrosive effects of stress.

To evaluate an intervention designed to mitigate parental isolation and stress, Penn GSE researchers conducted a randomized field trial with 116 socially isolated Head Start parents, 40 of whom had a history of child maltreatment.

Despite nearly a century of debate, no consensus has yet emerged about the best strategies for addressing the achievement gap.

In an examination of the research evidence on the benefits of early childhood education, Irma Perez-Johnson and Rebecca Maynard conclude that programs that are "intensive, high-quality, and long-lasting" are the most effective, with "the potential to eliminate a substantial amount of the kindergarten readiness gaps."

What is the true aim of teacher research? Contrary to the demands of the academy, it is "not primarily to ‘do research,' but, rather, to teach better." So argues Susan Lytle in "At Last: Practitioner Inquiry and the Practice of Teaching: Some Thoughts on Better."

Children with emotional and behavioral problems are likely to experience a host of difficulties in preschool that can interfere with their ability to learn and to develop peer relationships. But the classroom itself is a complex social and working environment that demands a lot of kids and can sometimes increase the likelihood of behavior problems.

With the emergence of English as the lingua franca, many Asian countries have introduced reforms to enhance English instruction, including teaching the subject on the elementary school level.

Faced with a substantial population of English language learners, U.S. school districts have stepped up their efforts to recruit bilingual teachers, but often without considering that these teachers, who work with and often belong to marginalized communities, have an increased likelihood of encountering discrimination.

In "Bilingual Teachers' Performances of Power and Conflict," Betsy Rymes and her co-authors describe how participatory drama exercises can help teachers training for bilingual education improve their ability to handle situations in which they feel devalued.

It is widely believed and lamented that American students perform poorly in international comparisons of academic achievement. In Is the United States Really Losing the International Horse Race in Academic Achievement?, Erling Boe and Sujie Shin demonstrate that the results of such assessments are far more nuanced than the headlines suggest. Having examined international studies conducted over ten years in four subjects and at three grade levels, the authors show that U.S.

Spurred by the rise of English as the international lingua franca, many East Asian countries have incorporated English instruction into their educational systems. One study, for instance, reports that over 90 percent of all elementary schools in Japan provide some kind of English language activities. Given this situation, Yuko Butler and Asako Takeuchi have analyzed the factors that affect Japanese elementary school students' performance on standardized tests of English oral proficiency.