Profiles the shifting view of an effective literacy program for the middle years. Discusses results of a teacher survey that explored the gaps between this evolving view of effective middle years literacy programs and teachers' perceptions of their current practice. Concludes with a model of teacher support to bridge the gap between current and…

Describes the role of South Dakota's governor in initiating technology plans for schools that would promote distance education. Discusses a conclave of leaders in technology and distance education that addressed the successful implementation of the Digital Dakota Network, a statewide intranet developed to help students, empower the workforce, and…

Interviews with 15 families of young children with disabilities and 14 professionals working with them indicated that professionals have an understanding of the change in focus from child-centered to family-centered intervention; however there was some incongruence between family-centered attitudes and actual practice. Families expressed overall…

Describes how participants interpret the process of implementing flexible access library programs in elementary school settings and how these programs evolve over time. Topics include educational change and reform, communication and public relations, support, adequate resources, professional development, and school climate. (Author/LRW)

Outlines the evolution of environmental education in Russia, based on authors' experiences in transforming curricula in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Summarizes changes adopted in the secondary school and in three regional universities. Evaluates specific problems of introducing environmental education at the pedagogical and engineering oriented…

Explores implementation and the change process in relation to "The Quiet Evolution: Changing the Face of Arts Education," which assesses the six regional institutes that receive multiyear funding from the Getty Education Institute for the Arts. Stresses that the report illustrates the importance of designing and documenting implementation…

Outlines ways to restructure programs in Catholic schools, discussing the seven "P's" that must be considered: pastors, principals, professionals, programs, parents, pupils, and parishes. Offers case study of a school in Texas that combined grade levels when enrollments dropped. Reports that achievement scores went up across the board as…

When they are well-devised and implemented, academic standards, tests, and associated accountability provisions can change the nature of teaching and learning. They can lead to a richer, more challenging curriculum, foster teacher collaboration, create a more productive teacher/parent dialogue, and focus attention on student achievement. (MLH)

The current educational reform movement is full of proposals for improving schools. Physical education is not immune to these reform efforts as new pedagogical strategies and curricular frameworks are proposed. Many of the proposals that have been put forth are excellent, but proposing change is easier than implementing change. To promote change…

From time to time critics of the middle level publish works that suggest that our philosophy is too much "feeling good" and not enough academic substance. Confusing this debate is the current trend of districts (especially large urban ones) to reconfigure their schools to K-8 neighborhood schools. In this article the author takes a long look at…

This article reflects on the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) at tertiary level, using the University of South Africa (Unisa) as a case study and the five stated goals of the NQF as the criteria for measuring the success or otherwise of the enterprise. A brief description is given of the initiatives at Unisa and…

Textbooks play a central role in the US education system. High school level World Geography textbooks are an important tool in the campaign to reform geography education in the United States, particularly through the introduction of the National Geography Standards. The status of the Standards in US schools is appraised. Five factors (authority,…

At first glance, academic assessment is simply another request for more paper. But it goes well beyond the design of a plan or blueprint. Instead, assessment involves the much more difficult task of creating a new culture. Borrowing from both the experience of the Department of Political Science at Northeastern Illinois University and from the…

The NEPAD e-Schools Initiative is a multi-country, multi-stakeholder, continental project to teach ICT skills to young Africans in primary and secondary schools and improve the provision of education in schools through the use of ICT applications and the Internet. The first phase of the Initiative is a "Demonstration Project"…

The Pittsburgh Public School District asked the RAND Corporation to monitor the first year's implementation (2006-2007) of Excellence for All (EFA) and provide feedback to district staff, the board, and other stakeholders. The Pittsburgh Public School District leadership developed EFA with the aim of increasing student achievement by improving…