It's a challenge for schools in every country: How to provide the right kind of discipline and create a climate that nurtures learning. This challenge may look different in different countries. A school's disciplinary climate not only is the product of educators' beliefs and actions, students' beliefs and actions, and the interaction of these, but…

A detailed survey of secondary schools in Illinois found a superfluity of course titles, low enrollments in foreign languages, and fewer academic than other courses. (Author)

Describes the characteristics and application of the School Assessment Survey, a validated teacher survey instrument that assesses nine organizational dimensions of a school and provides feedback for staff use. (PGD)

A study of sixty new Florida independent schools and parental reasons for enrolling their children. Most parents wanted their child to have more individual attention and a better school environment. Some of the newer schools exist, however, to escap integrated ones. (AF)

Since 1998, Florida's harsh A+ Program has graded each public school. School leaders have responded by setting urgent goals, engaging school personnel, using school achievement data, strengthening professional development, aligning curricula, increasing time for academics, choosing supportive instructional materials, building interdisciplinary…

Presents data from a survey of the effectiveness of middle school programs in 34 states. The data show that changing to middle school organization results in student achievement gains, decreased discipline problems, enhanced personal development among students, and other positive effects. (MD)

Results of a survey show considerable support for students learning the "basics"; however, there is even greater support for students becoming good citizens, having a good self-image, being self-confident, and exhibiting proper health habits. (Author/MLF)

Summarizes findings of a national survey that analyzed interviews of 1,025 students from 42 schools throughout the U.S. that were identified as "schools children like." (JG)

The principal of a school that used a school and community survey (described in the previous article by Regina Paul) explains how the survey was used to improve instruction. (Author/JM)

Presents the results from a 1984 national survey of high school community service programs. Findings include: 27 percent of high schools offer some kind of community service programs, enrollments vary greatly, females outnumber males, more than half of the programs have no hispanics, and 36 percent have no black students. Includes tables,…

Discussed the necessity for eliminating sexist values from textbooks and reading materials for young readers. (Author/RK)

The past superintendent of the Toledo (Ohio) public schools explains how a community survey was used to set school priorities and develop curriculum in a way that significantly increased school support. (JM)

A survey of superintendents from seven New Jersey counties revealed that most districts provided little training for substitutes or teachers using them, despite employing an average of 5,320 subs weekly. Teachers, substitutes, and students provided suggestions for improvement. Substitutes prefer schools with strong support systems. (MLH)