This paper revisits the literature on the nature of school organizations and presents a view of secondary schools as complex social systems, as opposed to bureaucratic-rational structures. Research was conducted into three Western Australia secondary schools planning to implement school-based decision making and planning procedures. The…

In 1987, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2020, the School Improvement and Professional Development Program. Designed to encourage innovation and professional development in a select number of Oregon schools, this act was intended to upgrade educational quality and create models for other state schools. Rather than evaluating program…

This paper discusses resources needed by infants and toddlers who are disabled and by their families, with respect to policy implementation of Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The paper emerged from a series of focus group discussions with health professionals in five states. Out of the open-ended discussions emerged…

While educational institutions in rural America present unique characteristics and offer opportunities for administrative excellence, educators have tended to overlook rural resources and the possibility of implementing educational programs in community life, which in turn, would reflect the heritage of rural culture and values. This paper…

The task of improving educational administrator preparation is one of epic proportions. The magnitude of the task is expressed using allusions to the epic style and the myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece. The paper presents a quick "environmental scan" to determine how visionary and revolutionary are some current ideas for improvements…

The purpose of the Ministerial Paper No. 6 and Schools Project is to develop strategies and materials for use by individual schools in the state of Victoria, Australia, as they plan and implement curricula consistent with the guidelines in the Victoria Ministry of Education's Ministerial Paper 6. The strategies focus on improving the balance and…

Most computer training has made little distinction between the training of teachers and computer professionals, and few of the professional training courses discuss the fundamental elements of curriculum revision in connection with computing literacy and implementation. The implementation of computing via the microcomputer at the United Nations…

To identify critical postimplementation events and school-related factors that affect the continuation of new classroom practices, qualitative data were collected in 14 elementary and secondary schools representing a mix of settings. Efforts to improve the schools' instructional programs in either basic skills, career education, or citizen…

This paper describes the use of a theory-based framework, the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM), in evaluating the implementation of three educational innovations in the Portland (Oregon) Public Schools during 1986-87: (1) Project READ, a districtwide alternative language arts program for grades 1-8; (2) Timeline, project management software…

Four change models are viewed as representing the range of strategies currently employed by schools in improving education. Intended as a source of assistance to those who wish to undertake a more thorough examination of these models, this article, in outline form, summarizes the distinguishing characteristics of each model along with the…

This report: (1) identifies the main policies, objectives, and thrusts in the health manpower development (HMD) program of the World Health Organization (WHO); (2) identifies factors influencing or determining these policies, and examines how they have shaped the HMD program; (3) investigates how policy changes and achievements in health manpower…

This section of the School Environment Handbook can be used by schools to improve school environment and to develop the necessary change strategies. The handbook serves four major purposes. First, the material is designed to facilitate thinking about steps in the planning process. Second, it discusses how to set goals and to state them in ways…

This study attempted to identify which tactics used by administrators had the greatest influence on the introduction of special education curriculum innovations. Surveys and interviews with administrators in 39 sites were used to gather data. The administrators were those identified as advocates of a particular innovation, the Social Learning…

Project QUEST (Quarters for Utilizing Educational Services for Teachers) was developed in 1976 for the Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Its purposes were to strengthen staff abilities, enrich the school program, and improve the working and learning climates of the school, which were suffering from low staff morale. QUEST was…

This collection of papers addresses significant issues related to the training of general educators to prepare them for the education of handicapped students in regular classrooms. Authors make specific recommendations for policymakers as they consider effective inservice and preservice programs. Papers are presented on the following topics: (1)…