When teachers and students share the responsibility for learning, students become active agents in their own learning who respond to feedback, set learning goals, track their progress, and adapt their own learning strategies when needed. Formative assessment provides a clear path forward to this kind of teaching and learning experience, and site…

The Artisan Teaching Model merges the idea of "teamwork" with the concept of an "artisan-apprentice relationship." As in any apprenticeship, newer members of the profession work alongside experts ("artisans"). As apprentices become more skilled, they take on larger and more substantial roles and continue to work…

In this powerful new book, James Rickabaugh, former superintendent and current director of the Institute for Personalized Learning (IPL), presents the groundbreaking results of the Institute's half-decade of research, development, and practice: a simple but powerful model for personalizing students' learning experiences by building their levels of…

"Cure Student Underachievement" is the culmination of the authors' research, practice, and experience as principals, superintendents, graduate professors, and consultants in efforts to improve school performance and increase student achievement. Searching for the real causes of underperformance, the authors explored problem-solving strategies in…

Public-private partnerships done right are a powerful tool for development, providing enduring solutions to some of the greatest challenges. To help familiarize readers with the art of alliance building, the Global Development Alliance (GDA) office has created a series of practical guides that highlight proven practices in partnerships,…

State educational accountability models are in transition. Whether modifying the present accountability system to comply with existing state and federal requirements or anticipating new ones--such as the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Race to the Top competition--recording the experiences of state education agencies (SEAs) that are currently…

This report presents a case study of the Automotive Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative (AMTEC), which brings together auto manufacturers and community colleges across 12 states to identify and implement wide-ranging improvements in technical education for automotive manufacturing workers. A "Big Collaboration"--AMTEC…

The purpose of this guide is to help chronically struggling schools restructure. "Restructuring" means major, rapid changes that affect how a school is led and how instruction is delivered. Restructuring is essential in achieving rapid improvements in student learning. The focus is on helping education leaders choose strategies that…

Presents and examines the "Stages of Commitment to Organizational Change" model in order to provide managers with a cognitive map of how commitment can be generated. Stages include contact, awareness of change, understanding, positive perception, installation, adoption, institutionalization, and internalization. (CT)

Securing appropriate facilities can be a significant challenge for those intending to open a charter school. Although, like all public schools, charter schools receive per-pupil dollars from the state, they generally receive considerably less. Additionally, because traditional public schools rely on their district to provide their school…

The article proposes a conceptual model for analyzing major delivery systems of instructional content used in Dean's Grants (a program to foster reform relayed to mainstreaming). Curriculum and faculty development issues are considered and weighted. Implications are suggested for the incorporation of content on other sociopolitical issues in…

Describes a typology of change drawn from conceptualizing conflict as cognitive or affective, and organizational formalization in terms of enabling or coercive procedures. The framework can predict the impact of change, from situations that catalyze and facilitate change to those that frustrate and inhibit it. Summarizes key factors for school…

Presents the "Change Potential Analysis Chart," a tool for administrators to use in successfully managing change. (Author/JM)

This resource book reflects the assumptions, structure, and insights of the American Council on Education's Project on Leadership and Institutional Transformation, a 6-year study that involved 26 institutions involved in comprehensive change. The first section of the primer, "Creating the Context," focuses on key issues that form the backdrop for…

Guidelines are offered for implementing collaborative models to meet the needs of students with special needs, including clarifying the need for collaboration, identifying the stakeholders of change, identifying the purpose and format of respective structures, setting targets for collaborative change, designing an implementation process, and…