Basic science is a process by which new knowledge is discovered; engineering is the process by which this new knowledge is made useful for practical situations or to solve particular problems. In education, new products are developed, research is completed, and the knowledge base is expanded, but there is no corollary to the engineer to make…

In a specially designed forum, 30 teachers and administrators joined a group of researchers to interpret some recent research findings. Discussion groups focused on four issues: teacher and principal morale, specialists and conflict, teacher teams, and "loose coupling" between the district and school. A dynamic exchange of ideas resulted, with…

Research on the use of knowledge resources in school improvement efforts explores the ways in which new ideas, programs, practices, materials, and technologies become incorporated into the operations of the nation's elementary and secondary schools, and examines the changes these organizations undergo in the process. Attempts at disseminating…

Describes school improvement programs established by universities, state agencies, and school districts. All are based on effective schools' research. (Author/JM)

This report summarizes the discussions at a workshop convened by the Forum on Adolescence of the Board on Children, Youth, and Families. The goal of the workshop was to provide an opportunity to learn about the work and preliminary findings of 16 projects and to review the knowledge base on the effectiveness of interventions designed to promote…

Abstracts of research projects conducted within the Austin (Texas) Independent School District (AISD) by external agencies or individuals are presented. Each of these researchers went through a screening process in which AISD staff members reviewed their proposals to ensure protection of AISD students and staff and quality research that fits the…

A program description and supporting materials of the San Diego County (California) Effective Schools Program are presented. The program involves a three-phase, research-based process for improving effectiveness at the school site. The phases are: assessment, planning, and implementation. Following an overview of the program, the steps involved in…

Reviews the requirements of the revised Title I for parent and community involvement in schools, especially the requirement for school-parent contracts, and summarizes research on the effects of school-family partnerships on students, teachers, and parents. Two major programs for building such partnerships are described. (SLD)

A project organized by the Consortium for Mathematics and Science Education at the State University of New York at Albany is described. The purpose of the project was to develop closer linkages between practice and research in didactics in mathematics and science education. A state-wide research network was created of higher education faculty with…

This paper argues that a mix of expertise is required to develop curricula and adapt them successfully to local school districts and outlines the strategies involved in using linking agents or agencies to bridge the gap between research and development (R & D) agencies and local school districts. After an introduction, the second section of…

This reading resource catalog is intended for teachers, administrators, and others looking for effective reading programs. The first section of the catalog presents six summaries of recent reading research with direct application for teaching practice. Topics covered are: choosing a textbook to improve student comprehension, using the cloze…

A study indicates that researchers entrusted with evaluating the educational outcomes of African American children must engage their practice for the public good and on behalf of these students. The Howard University Evaluation Training Institute is used as a guide to describe the steps for conducting quality evaluations, and to highlight the…

It is possible for at-risk students to perform at demanding academic levels, and their achievement can be improved dramatically in a relatively short time. Effective ways to teach at-risk children have already been identified; no new research is needed. This report covers the following specific issues related to educating high-risk students. It…

The first two papers in this collection introduce both the Research and Development Exchange (RDx) itself and the subsequent contracted papers in this and a companion volume. The first paper discusses the general problems toward which the RDx effort is directed, understandings and assumptions affecting the design of the work, principles guiding…

In the first phase of a study of factors affecting knowledge dissemination and knowledge use in staff development programs, a conceptual model was developed, and from it a 15 page questionnaire was derived to collect data on workshop participants' background and personal characteristics, school characteristics, and workshop characteristics. This…