Parallel classes: Differences and similarities. Teacher effects and schooleffects in secondary schools

Results from school effectiveness studies that took into account difference s among teachers or departments within schools indicate that these teacher or department differences outweigh the differences between schools. The pre sent study shows that differences in student achievement between parallel c lasses taught by different teachers may be very smell. Coordination efforts among teachers relate primarily to the content and goals of instruction. W ith respect to classroom instruction large differences between teachers may still be detected. School effectiveness differences usually found across g rades and subjects may be: due only in part to loose internal coordination. The fact that it is extremely difficult for teachers to compare the result s of teaching across grades and subjects may be equally important.