Reviews commonly held perceptions about distance education, beginning with historical biases and including current thinking regarding technology integration. A self-administered test is included that is designed to encourage discussion about opinions that people have regarding the impact of distance education on teachers, students, instruction,…

The Netherlands' new basic school (bringing together kindergarten and primary schools) was implemented in the mid-1980s to increase individualized instruction and curriculum differentiation for young children. This article summarizes a study mapping the new program's implementation by principals and teachers, and identifies three response patterns…

Recounts the history of Pennsylvania's attempts to invoke large-scale changes in language-related instructional curricula. Discerns patterns among school districts in terms of literacy instruction as well as in factors that seem to be associated with successful change processes. (RS)

For 6 years, Frederick County (Maryland) Public Schools has pursued a major restructuring effort involving 30,000 students and 46 schools and covering all disciplines and grades. This initiative involved five components: developing student outcomes, defining curriculum, developing new assessment tasks, planning for instruction, and providing for…

Urges educators to beware adopting new programs during the coming academic year. A better approach is to adapt worthy innovations without throwing out last year's innovations. The history of American educational practice supports this approach, emphasizing the value of familiar continuity sprinkled with modest and occasionally some significant…

Observes that there are numerous imperatives for changes in U.S. mathematics teaching and learning, but, in many schools, classroom practice remains conventional. Examines the reforms enacted in a midsized, urban school district. Reports that the resources available for mathematics education restricted possibilities for reform. (DSK)

Presents results of a study (phase II) that examined using integrated curriculum as a school-reform strategy, highlighting the relationship between teacher implementation and principal beliefs and practices. Telephone interviews with 12 Missouri principals showed that over time, integrated curricula-usage increased and became more sophisticated.…

Evaluation studies of the Dutch Educational Priority Policy (OVB) conducted up to 1993 show that inside the Educational Priority Areas the OVB is being implemented better and achievement has improved more than outside these areas. Results are based on data from 600 schools involving 10,000 students in each year of measurement. (SLD)

The relationship between participation in national reform network activities and the quality of the Success for All program implementation is examined. Results of a research survey of principals and facilitators indicate that the success of the reform program relies on networking among teachers and schools through participation in national…

Explores the efforts of two African-American principals of an innercity elementary school to involve parents in all levels of the educational process through school reform. Despite similar backgrounds, the principals differed in their understanding of the community and their position in it. One was successful in improving home/school relations,…

Reviews Cuban educational reforms, highlighting 1959, 1976, and 1980s initiatives. Compares Cuba's progress with John Kotter's eight-step process based on establishing a sense of urgency, creating a guiding coalition, developing and communicating the change vision, empowering broad-based action, generating short-term wins, consolidating gains, and…

Examines the conceptual underpinnings of charter schools, their appeal to reformers, and the resistance to their implementation. The charter-school movement seems promising but will probably founder, due to inadequate financial support, special interest groups' lobbying efforts, and lack of an entrepreneurial spirit among educators. (11…

Along with the restructuring of educational programs must come the restructuring of resources. Schools should review all resources, including the ones for teacher development, to focus on serving students optimally. Under the new Title I schoolwide programs of the Improving America's Schools Act, this is easier and more logical than before. (SLD)

Suggests the field of education has paid little attention to complexities involved in large-scale replication of curricular changes and other new directions for school-based interventions, which has contributed to the failure of many reforms. Highlights a framework of general phases and specific steps for diffusion of major new approaches across a…

Explains why schoolwide reform models do not work. Reviews several validated school-improvement principles and discusses their implementation. (PKP)