This article examines a school district's Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) program using perceived self-efficacy in academic achievement and self-regulated learning, GPA and attendance as indicators of program effectiveness. Results suggest that AVID participation was positively and significantly correlated with attendance in the…

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.…

Presents the Quality Reading Program Questionnaire, which has been used in more than 100 school districts to evaluate or improve existing reading programs. (Author/WD)

Curricular change should be a planned process that looks at the needs of students and at the content implications of any course or program. (Author)

Offers practical suggestions for minimizing 14 problems that frequently occur when curriculum programs are evaluated. Timing evaluations, evaluating appropriate factors, making meaningful comparisons, meeting skepticism, selecting tests, selecting evaluators, assessing evaluation results, and maintaining credibility are among the concerns…

In-school suspension programs can be viable, beneficial tools if they give equal attention to rehabilitation and to order and control. If considered as merely administrative conveniences and strictly disciplinary innovations, they will probably provide no educational benefits. (Author/IRT)

Evaluation of secondary school music programs should not be based on performing groups' success. The Music Educators National Conference has suggested that a comprehensive evaluation should examine several aspects of a school music program, including goals and objectives, leadership, staffing, curriculum and scheduling, instructional materials,…

Asked whether their music programs are in danger because of current economic conditions or reduced pupil enrollments, six principals told the writer exactly what's happening to music instruction in their schools. (Editor)

Convinced that most educators are shortsighted in planning curriculum design, these writers take the proverbial bull by the horns and present the criteria they feel are necessary for realistic program planning. (Editor)

Describes evaluation by administrators, teachers, and students, from 20 diverse school systems, of experiential learning programs, and describes the educational practice being studied. (Author/MLF)

The recommendations in this article, drawn from the evaluation of 52 New England secondary schools, were conducted by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges for accreditation purposes. Recommendations cover curriculum, philosophy and objectives, guidance, student activities, and other areas. (Author/DS)

A modest survey to determine the nature of existing programs to prepare school principals bears out the author's thesis that these programs should be more responsive to the needs of principals who are enmeshed in today's societal crises. (Editor)

Presents an evaluation form that library media specialists, teachers, and students can use to rate their school library media center. (WD)

Reports the results of a study of the discipline alternative, in-school suspension, in which disruptive students are removed from the mainstream and placed in a specialized program within the school. Identifies four areas in which discrepancies were found between what was planned and what actually happened. (Author/WD)