School leaders desperate for strategies that will improve student learning have often opted to embrace strategies that they have observed being used successfully in other districts. Sometimes, this works; sometimes, it does not. This article presents two vignettes about districts that made similar decisions to implement learning walks. The…

The history of American early education is one of changing roles and goals. As federal engagement in early childhood has shifted in response to social, political, and economic needs, few policy efforts have focused on long-term planning or coordination. The authors identify the appropriate roles of federal, state, and local governments and make 13…

The largest issue for schools is not extending the school day or year--as useful as those policies might be--but of meeting time requirements within the constraints of the budgets and personnel given them. Policy makers rarely understand how their policies impact practice. Author Marilyn Crawford suggests a policy-talks-to-practice strategy that…

Argues that only if revenue sharing is genuinely responsive to citizen needs and in fact, secures self-initiated involvement of citizens in program execution will it be ultimately successful in developing self-supporting individuals and communities. (JF)

Looks at past evaluation of compensatory education, suggests new approaches to evaluation, and makes recommendations about program implementation. (IRT)

The newly appointed director of the National Institute of Education responds to questions about the institute's objectives. (JN)

Just five years ago the National Diffusion Network seemed moribund, but it has survived to become the most important force in staff development of teachers nationwide. (Author)

The central proposal is the establishment of an educational research and development institute and an implementation council in each state. These would make it possible for the states to carry out vital research, development, and implementation activities that have not yet been conducted well at either level. (Author/IRT)

Attempts to analyze what happened to the high hopes for ESEA Title III and how its original direction can be modified to achieve its original goal of promoting beneficial change in American education while lessening the time between development of new teaching practices and their adoption in the classroom. Considers the specific impact of ESEA…

Informational, diagnostic, prescriptive functions of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are best served by governance structure composed of federal, state, and local members and a standing technical advisory board. Structure protects NAEP from undue federal influence and special interest groups, builds bridges to educators and…