This paper presents selected findings from a three-year research investigation of general and special education reform initiatives implemented in five local school districts across the United States (including a large urban, predominately minority system; two suburban districts; a small independent city district; a large county-wide system; two…

This implementation guide contains information based on experiences that occurred during the development and implementation of the Rhode Island Tech Prep Model. It is intended to assist educators in addressing challenges and obstacles faced by the program early in the planning process. It begins with a rationale for tech prep. Rhode Island…

The aim of a practicum was to integrate language arts and vocational education at the high school level. The following strategies were used: collaboration with vocational teachers; development of cross-curricula activities; reinforcement and evaluation of communication skills in the vocational areas; infusion of occupational relevancy into…

By 1992, according to a study by the Council of Chief State School Officers, more than 3.5 million computers were in U.S. elementary and secondary schools--a ratio of one computer for every 13 students. In addition, 99 percent of all schools across the country reported that they provide their students with some access to computers. Sometimes…

The Odyssey Project is named for the Greek hero, Odysseus, who for 10 years, sought the purpose of life. The Project is based on the philosophy that a new generation of American schools must be viewed as a lifelong quest for excellence. The project is one of 11 designs for schools funded by the New American Schools Development Corporation, a…

An overview is provided of the Accelerated Schools Project (ASP) as implemented in one urban elementary school in New Orleans, emphasizing the role of the University of New Orleans Satellite Center. The present student population of the school studied is 405 students in grades pre-kindergarten through six. The ASP is a non-traditional strategy for…

This report, part of a long-range plan by San Diego Unified School District, California, investigates the extent to which the multitrack year-round program should be expanded to meet facility and curriculum needs. The report is divided into seven sections. Section 1, an issues statement, is followed by a background section and a section describing…

Changes in planning and design of educational facilities in Greece, formalized by legislation in 1985, were the result of major educational and social reforms begun in 1982. This report analyzes issues involved during the present educational facilities transitional phase and recommends establishment of a central support service. The legislative…

This report describes four components of an instructional management program that was implemented by a large public school system in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1981. The four program components are the following: (1) A districtwide uniform curriculum; a districtwide standardized criterion referenced testing program; a performance-based student…

Prompted by the national educational reform movement, a Kentucky committee, mandated by the general assembly, called in 1983 for changes in the preparation and certification of school administrators. This study presents a background of the mandates, details of the certification changes, the board of education's study of administrative preparation…

In 1980, the Ontario Ministry of education published "Issues and Directions," a set of initiatives drafted in response to the effects of declining school enrollments in Ontario. This publication is a retrospective report, looking back at the initiatives set out in "Issues and Directions" and reporting on their results as of…

This paper describes research based on the Effective Schools Project, a collaborative project between the University of Washington and the Seattle School District. The research was undertaken to determine the amount of change that took place in two rural high schools over two years and to analyze the factors that contributed to those changes based…

This paper describes two case studies of testing programs at local levels. The work was conducted as part of the Assessment Development and Use component of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's (NWREL) Assessment and Development project. Two school districts were recruited to participate in this effort--McMinnville, Oregon, and Kyrene,…

The characteristics of a proposed basic skills instructional program that would involve all staff in a junior high school are described in this report. Basic skills are defined as ideas needed throughout life. Planned for the 1982-83 school year, the program is aimed at creating an environment for effective school change. Activities in seven…

The Rural Education Program (REP) is funded to develop a strategy--the Rural Futures Development (RFD) Strategy--that encourages local initiative and participation in educational change. The strategy was installed in the San Juan School District in southeastern Utah (Site "A") from August 1974 to June 1976 and represented the first…