The notion of the continuum is applied to special education in diverse contexts across many nations. This article explores its conceptual underpinnings, drawing on a systematic search of the literature to review recurring ideas associated with the notion and to explicate both its uses and shortcomings. Through a thematic analysis of the…

Investigates the value of a tiered model of staff development for five districts using "teacher consultants" drawn from a parent district with a long writing project history. Evaluates preconditions, processes and outcomes. Discusses results in terms of student achievement and classroom practices. (SR)

Check & Connect was created in a five year period from 1990 to 1995. The original manual, entitled "Keeping Kids in School: Using Check & Connect for Dropout Prevention" and written by David Evelo, Mary Sinclair, Christine Hurley, Sandra Christenson, and Martha Thurlow, was published in 1996 (ED398701). This newly revised Check…

This workshop was held for the purpose of training selected staff members of the Ohio Module Field Unit of the Appalachian Adult Basic Education Demonstration Center (AABEDC). Twelve persons, six teachers and six paraprofessionals, were selected to participate in the workshop. While their specific jobs vary, all will be concerned with utilization…

Describes a case study of an inservice Teacher Corp project where the purpose was to resocialize teachers moving from self-contained classrooms to an open-space high school. A staff development model is described along with the implementation strategy and the concrete operationalization. (JMF)

A staff development model synthesizing the /I/D/E/A/ and Rand studies of the change process in schools is presented. The discussion focuses on how the organizational self-interest of the various parties interested in staff development actually impede innovation. (JMF)

The context of staff development programs should be selected from options promising substantial increases in student learning and aptitude. This article introduces the "effect size" concept and reviews recent research on teaching models (cooperative learning, information-processing models, synectics, nondirective teaching, and DISTAR). Includes 55…

This book uses a traditional focus of educational development (teaching and learning) to examine the theories and practices of staff development in Australasia. The initial chapter reviews the philosophical foundations of staff development, including the basis of the idea of development, along with the problems that concept raises. Chapter 2…

The report interprets and summarizes the findings of thirteen public schools in Columbus, Ohio, each of which evaluated its social studies curriculum using the Project PRIMES model. The model, supported by a field service unit of four evaluation specialists, included instrumentation consisting of four components: staff development, curriculum and…

This paper describes an instructional improvement approach which aims to assist educational systems to enhance their capabilities to plan and implement effective improvements in their basic skills programs, and illustrates how research on implementation and dissemination is used in the design and development of the approach. Four elements of the…

This article develops two perspectives on the Regular Education Initiative, the first drawing on two decades of research and practice to document and discuss understandings about school improvement. The second draws on the current movement to restructure schools. A reformist partnership between classroom teachers and special education is proposed.…

This document describes basic skills, their place in programs of vocational preparation, and their potential for progression into more advanced programs. Section 1 reviews the present situation and concepts regarding the provision and acquisition of skills. The need for progression is described, and the possibility of creating programs for…

The first section of this essay reviews forces that led to the Regular Education Initiative (REI). Findings from research on effective instruction, innovation and staff development are synthesized. A conceptual framework is offered to explain factors necessary to create meaningful, sustained changes in classroom practices as required by the REI.…

4MAT is an 8-step, sequential instructional model based on two theoretical constructs: Kolb's model of learning styles and the concept of brain hemisphericity. The model, developed by B. McCarthy (1987), is derived by interacting each of Kolb's four quadrants with both left and right brain. Kolb outlined four learning styles based on the four…

Attempts to answer the question "What does research say about getting innovations into schools?" are based on the experiences of a nonprofit organization that has been engaged in staff development efforts to bring about change in schools. The paper presents a general description of the organization's operation; its relationship to other change…