As researchers, decision-makers, and practitioners focus on continuous improvement in education, local-level change is gaining importance. Yet, many local school improvement efforts fail to be fully implemented. Even those that are fully implemented often fail to sustain improvements because the schools are embedded in systems that face multiple…

Change is inevitable and essential to any functioning institution. But change can be stressful, especially when it upsets established routines and patterns. Library managers need to be able to lead staff through episodes of change while remaining empathetic, and this book shows them how to: (1) Engage library staff in the process and encourage…

State educational accountability models are in transition. Whether modifying the present accountability system to comply with existing state and federal requirements or anticipating new ones--such as the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Race to the Top competition--recording the experiences of state education agencies (SEAs) that are currently…

Examines how community mental health practitioners are likely to implement services for improving community-based care of the chronically mentally disabled. Describes a scale for administrators to assess practitioner orientations and thereby anticipate compliance problems. Suggests ways administrators may alleviate these problems. (Author)

This article explores the thesis that colleges and universities can leverage desktop computing power to address campus administration needs. It describes a study of administrative computing needs at the University of Chicago; identifies roadblocks to effective use of desktop computing, such as inadequate computing knowledge; and gives…

In June 1993, the Family and Youth Services Bureau brought together a working group to help local programs for runaway and homeless youth better meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population of young people. Strategies developed by this working group are shared in this guide. The introductory chapter provides a framework within which local…

This paper presents a model for turning research findings into prescriptions for practical action. The model contains the following five interactive elements: (1) clear, understandable research knowledge; (2) relevant knowledge, which is seen as meaningful to normal life and concerns; (3) images of actions which exemplify the knowledge; (4) a will…

This paper is one in a publication series containing general knowledge which can help colleges and universities in the various phases of developing comprehensive cooperative education programs (see note). It explains and summarizes the major stages that an institution must pass through in the conversion from a traditional academic plan to a…

This paper is one in a publication series containing general knowledge which can help colleges and universities in the various phases of developing comprehensive cooperative education programs (see note). It addresses how to help smooth the way for major institutional change by fostering an atmosphere of cooperation and support for the project.…

This article provides guidelines for knowing when to institutionalize peer-mediated instruction and interventions (PMII), and generalization techniques familiar to special educators are linked specifically to institutionalization of PMII. Barriers and promoters of sustained PMII in schools are identified, with implications for how stakeholders…

This book offers a guide to implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) in public and private organizations based on interviews and site visits with 12 award-winning companies. Part 1 provides an overview of TQM, attempts to put the Quality Revolution into perspective, and suggests diagnostic questions to determine whether TQM is appropriate for a…

Discusses the use of political power within an organization to effectively implement training and performance improvement solutions. The nature of organizations is discussed; political strategies dealing with co-workers, bosses, committees, and the red tape of bureaucracies are described; and methods to increase chances of success are suggested.…

The understanding and management of the changes called for by fundamental restructuring are discussed in this sixth guidebook in a series of nine video conferences on school restructuring. Offered are a summary of school improvement over the last 30 years, a systems framework for individual and team changes, and strategies for organizational…

This article describes the development of a provider-based outcome measurement system, describing core components and processes, what to measure, who should be involved in the development and measurement process, and what data collection technologies can be used or adopted. Problems in developing model outcome measurement services are presented.…

Describes problems in faculty evaluation and performance appraisal and presents assumptions and features of newer alternative faculty evaluation systems. A strategy for developing systems which is based on organizational change theory is discussed. This system involves use of committees and structured phases for faculty input. (MBR)