Describes the concept of education vouchers, discusses opposition to vouchers, and outlines the minimal requirements of a regulated voucher plan'' currently proposed by the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Center for the Study of Public Policy. (JH)

Granby High School in Norfolk, Virginia, is a large comprehensive high school restructured into four smaller academies that allow students a more personal learning environment. Positive growth is shown in test scores, dropout rates, and the narrowing achievement gap between minority and majority students. (MLF)

David A. Bennett served as an urban public school administrator for 20 years but is now president of Education Alternatives, Inc., a company dedicated to the concept of private management of public schools. Bennett proposes administering schools as public utilities--private management with public regulatory control. (MLF)

In April 1986 the Congressional Budget Office issued a report, "Trends in Educational Achievement," which shows that the trend in rising standardized test scores began in the elementary grades in the mid-1970's and is not due to the current educational reform movements. (MD)

Lists 24 other notable books published in the past year, highlighting the year's 10 must-read books (MLF)

Reviews 12 books about schools including 3 about school reform and 2 each on technology in education and gender discrimination. Other subjects are historically black schools, strategies for at-risk children, total quality management for school boards, and children in poverty and neighborhood organizations that have helped them. Highlights six…

Presents the views of a British educator and Conservative Member of Parliament. (IRT)

In Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY, a number of unique strategies are being used to attract and retain qualified principals. Based on a survey of principal-certified personnel, the district conducted a more aggressive external recruitment effort, and also started providing housing subsidies, salary incentives, and assigning some…

Defends New Jersey's school takeover law as the final step of a monitoring process designed to ensure the health of local schools. Most of New Jersey's 583 school systems have achieved state accreditation, and many of the 16 that haven't will be certified within the year. An inset describes the takeover process. (MLH)

Hartford, Connecticut, hired Education Alternatives, Inc. (EAI), to help run the schools. EAI's key responsibility will be to help the school board implement their strategic plan for high and clear performance standards, improved assessment methods, more and better staff training, a decentralization of authority, and increased use of technology.…

Observers of school reform efforts in 17 central New York school districts found a performance dip that sets in during the implementation stage. Staff performance suffers because everyone is learning the new system. Assistance, support, and training need to be offered until everyone has mastered the basics. Gradually, the reforms will become an…

We need to get clear agreement in the United States on what students should know and be able to do. We also need to invest in education. An initiative filed in Colorado earmarks a one-cent sales tax for education. (MLF)

Most charter schools are true bridges to the 21st century. However, some schools are breaching the separation of church and state, neglecting special-education students, playing favorites with admission, or expelling students who "do not fit" their school. Proposes corrective action to ensure that charter schools are shaped toward democratic ends.…

Presents evidence to demonstrate that accountability (1) is developing into something it was never meant to be; (2) can mean more freedom for school boards, superintendents, principals, and teachers; and (3) can place extra pressures on board members. (Author/JF)