By aligning factors that most commonly influence the achievement of Black and Hispanic students with the type of resources inside the black box of schooling, this study differentiated the achievement effect of school resources from what was brought by students to schools. The hierarchical regression results showed that minority students'…

The purpose of this study is to describe an alternative means of estimating school effectiveness, referred to as an "absolute year" of schooling and demonstrate its usefulness as a measure of school effectiveness in the middle grades. More specifically, the study investigated (a) whether the absolute schooling effect in math and reading outcomes…

Recounts an incident in an Arizona high school where a student made a miraculous recovery from a near-death incident. Despite negative predictions from the treating physicians, the student leads a normal life again. (MD)

Authors contend that educators too often are concerned about the big issues and forget about the persistent timewasters that have deleterious effects on educational programs. (Editor/CB)

Iroquois Middle School (Michigan) has a five-fold and ongoing positive reinforcement program of birthday cards, student of the month, personalized report cards, positive notes and phone calls, and student awards. (MLF)

In describing the Spartans of ancient Greece, this writer makes a parallel with the problems of high school students today and asks principals to be understanding. (Author/LD)

To keep parents and students informed of class requirements, have teachers design a curricular paper that outlines each course and send these home for parent/student review. (DCS)

Describes an alternative model for student-principal interaction that resulted in fewer discipline referrals. The model encourages more communication between the principal and students and focuses on building a positive relationship between adults and adolescents. (MD)

Approaching orientation from a problem-solving perspective includes identifying student needs, establishing broad goals, analyzing resources, and creating procedures that address common problems and serve student needs. (Author/MLF)

Describes the efforts of the administrative team at Minot (North Dakota) High School to improve school climate and solve discipline problems through humanizing education. (DS)

How a school was changed from one that was constantly riot torn to one that is peaceful is described. (DB)

The involvement of youth in Parent Teacher Association (PTA) activities across the country is an encouraging sign for education. (LD)

This article suggests guidelines drawn from court rulings, which are reliable indicators of the current status of legal opinion on the subject of procedural due process and the rights it guarantees students. (Editor/RK)

Recounts experiences in the Japanese Education and Society program, sponsored by the Council on International Educational Exchange and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. (Author/MLF)

Three key features of the discipline program contribute to its effectiveness: the clear statement of a philosophy of discipline in the student handbook; the presence of visible authority figures in the building; and the consistent application of school rules and suitable punishments. (PGD)