Small, rural school districts face a special challenge when implementing the next generation of academic standards known as the Common Core State Standards. This is the task facing the instructional consultants with the Tulare County Office of Education. The county, located in central California with its dominant agricultural economy, has 45…

International Baccalaureate (IB) programs are turning up in a diverse mix of school districts, an attempt to add rigor and depth. For rich and for poor, for big schools and small ones, IB has become a way to add rigor and depth to public school curricula. But each school district has adapted IB for its own needs. Some use it in all schools for all…

A recent Google search for information regarding performance pay in education produced 6.1 million results. This number should come as no surprise given the current level of interest in incentives as a popular reform option in public education. Supporters believe pay-for-performance programs encourage less effective teachers to improve and will…

Walking today through Somerville, Massachusetts's Winter Hill Community School during school hours differs markedly compared to just a few years ago. Gone are the greasy potato chips and chocolate-chip cookies from the a la carte offerings in the cafeteria. Missing are the late morning fundraisers when children would fill up on cupcakes and other…

New superintendents' most common mistakes include extolling a previous district's way of doing things, assuming they are the only experts, having answers before knowing the questions, developing person-specific rules, having either an open- or closed-door policy, redecorating, and being a conspicuous consumer. Avoidance strategies are outlined.…

Explains that superintendents need to create a vision and convert it into an action plan. To achieve this end, the visionary leader must communicate the idea and build support. Commitment cannot be rallied without a leader who inspires subordinates' trust. (MLH)

Researchers and practitioners agree that learning styles stem from a nature/nurture combination; students of all styles can be successful learners; students are more successful when using their style strengths; and diverse teaching styles are essential. This article discusses implementation issues, cultural factors, alternative teaching styles,…

The charter-school movement radically changes the existing system, deeming it unrescuable. The superficial conceptual rationale for creating these complex new settings will engender implementation processes that practically guarantee charters' failure. Matters are not helped by enthusiastic proponents who egregiously underestimate the consequences…

Describes how 16 superintendents spurred district reform efforts by creating a positive environment through a four-step process: establishing trust, planning the district's future, communicating their vision effectively, and following through. An inset provides advice to other change-oriented superintendents. (MLH)

The Improving America's Schools Act (the new Title I) is changing the way public school performance is evaluated. The IASA clearly places responsibility for standards and assessments with states. Standards-based assessment assesses students against high, specific standards, determines adequate yearly progress, and demands an accurate…

To find out about learning styles programs and instruments, educators can contact the Arizona State University's Educational Information System, perform an ERIC search, or request information from educational associations, organizations, and experts. This article advises on choosing learning style models, designing supportive environments,…

A decentralized teacher-coaching model has been adopted by several Los Angeles-area school districts through an initiative called Design for Excellence Linking Teaching and Achievement (DELTA). DELTA encourages coaches and beginning teachers to develop a personalized support plan, and stresses one-on-one relationships and support, not evaluation.…

Before schools purchase computer hardware and software, the district should set goals for their use, establish effective teacher training, and determine a realistic schoolwide implementation plan.(MD)

Many share Linda Page's concerns ("A Conservative Christian View on Values," this issue) about our country's crisis of character. Schools must embrace historical moral standards. Page's proposed strategies are inadequate, since release time and Bible clubs reach only a small part of a community's population. A school committed to…

Block schedules offer many advantages, including increased usable instructional time, increased opportunities to use alternative instructional strategies, and fewer homework assignments and class changes for students. Challenges include maintaining student attention, providing balanced schedules, retaining major concepts, and accommodating…