Secondary school administrators are increasingly finding themselves in the position of implementing Response to Intervention (RTI). This system of providing progressively intensive levels of intervention for the purposes of preventing academic failure and identifying children with learning disability may be useful at the secondary level. However,…

Hall and Hord's (2005) concerns-based adoption model (CBAM) served as the framework to study a districtwide implementation of Rachel's Challenge in Rockwall, Texas. This article describes CBAM principles and strategies that were used to increase awareness of the change process during the first year of implementing the character education program.…

Some school leaders have viewed programs such as Advanced Placement (AP) as an attractive option to resolve the ongoing achievement gap problem. However, the ongoing debate in the field about maintaining the ostensible purity of the AP program versus diluting it with program expansion has hindered the full utilization of AP classes to close the…

The increasing number of special education-related lawsuits has become costly, time-consuming, and a strain on school-community relations--in short, an issue of growing concern to U. S. school systems. To identify factors associated with this type of litigation, this study analyzed data from one state's 10-year experience with due process special…

Includes descriptions of 16 of the participating schools written by administrators of those schools. (IRT)

A recent study asked 178 secondary school principals at 100 schools to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used with at-risk youth. The most effective strategies were afterschool programs, Chapter I programs, teacher aides, coping skills, and peer tutoring for middle schools; and individualized instruction, teacher aides, and summer school…

Effective treatment programs for students with serious emotional and behavior disturbances have used several approaches, including continuous assessment and monitoring of progress; systematic, consistent, data-based interventions; provision for practicing new skills; treatment matched to problem; multicomponent treatment; programing for transfer…

Having worked for several years with three Wisconsin school districts, the author describes the metaplan that emerged for developing districtwide improvement plans. He presents a completed plan to clarify the process. The participating school districts welcome inquiries. (Author/TE)

Teams can boost creativity, morale, and communication, but they can also unleash disharmony, create tension, and waste time. To maximize teaming benefits, administrators must share authority, cultivate teacher leadership, train all team members, use situational leadership, model effective team leader behaviors, provide incentives, support each…

A South Carolina high school received a three-year, $90,000 state grant to study a brain-based approach to helping students reach their full potential. Examination of faculty teaching styles and student learning styles revealed that only high achievers' learning styles matched their teachers' fact-based approaches. New programs and technologies…

The author outlines three strategies for updating physical education programs (overcoming inertia, exploring alternatives, and adopting changes). (DS)

According to a 1987 survey of administrators in 154 exemplary middle schools, certain implementation strategies are essential to ensure success, including participatory decision-making, leadership and philosophical vision, windows of opportunity, staff development, and evaluation and public relations expertise. Postimplementation strategies are…

Provides 10 guidelines to follow in implementing a competency-based curriculum. The guidelines include not imposing the program from above, matching measurement devices to instructional goals, stimulating student support of the program, and allowing for easy adjustment of competency measures. (IRT)

Site-based management can be effective way to empower teachers and communities to improve schools. Success will ensue only by involving entire staff in change process, realigning power structure, and using time effectively. Third goal can be accomplished by rearranging school day to allow morning teacher meetings and 10:00-4:00 student attendance…

Can educational reform ever be achieved without some kind of catalyst to give the movement meaning and focus? The combining of human, technical, and financial resources through school study councils, with the proper leadership from principals, can bring together diverse units at multiple levels in education. (CJH)