Shows how a focus on fixing "problem" students may obscure or ignore school-based problems. Defines school characteristics associated with three types of alternative schools, with competing purposes: to educate, discipline, or heal. Notes ill effects of punitive approaches, and discusses three interrelated factors shown by research to…

Applied a between-grade design to the estimation of school effectiveness and examined the agreement between the resulting estimates and those obtained from the traditional statistical control model. Analysis of data from 11,099 intermediate-grade students in Israel shows that neither method produced estimates that were stable across grade level…

Summarizes the achievement score change results on 292 schools that were granted the outcomes endorsement process in the 1997-98 or 1998-99 school years. Charts the progress of the NCA COS outcomes-endorsed schools in the improvement efforts. Emphasizes achievement change scores and patterns of goal selection. (VWC)

There has been strong governmental pressure on British schools to adopt a technicist-rational approach to management. This paper investigates the relationship between efficiency of resource management and school effectiveness, using data from 117 secondary school inspection reports undertaken by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED).…

Although the United States prides itself on individualism and free markets, parents in many other countries have more freedom of choice than Americans. This review describes Charles L. Glenn's book "Educational Freedom in Eastern Europe," provides background for choice in formerly communist countries, and summarizes dilemmas that choice…

Explores two underlying dimensions of school effectiveness: instrumental and expressive functions. Explores Paul Mott's idea of perceived organizational effectiveness as a concise measure capturing both these dimensions. Tests a model incorporating expressive elements (trust and school health) and instrumental elements (student achievement). Each…

The Danforth Foundation and the National Policy Board for Educational Administration brought together 90 educators to examine characteristics of reform-minded schools and their implications for preparing school leaders. This article examines these issues from five participants' viewpoints. School leaders must be able to promote shared visions,…

Summarizes a study that surveyed 1,047 teachers and 4,715 students about 55 Hong Kong primary schools' educational environment. Analyzes 18 environmental variables categorized by instructional, structural, human, political, and cultural aspects. Classifies teacher and student environmental perceptions according to synergetic, headless, mediocre,…

Provides historical and current information about historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), identifies benefits and criticisms of HBCUs, and draws conclusions from the success of HBCUs that can apply to all institutions. Asserts that there is a clear case educationally justifying HBCUs. (EV)

Describes and demonstrates analytical techniques used in organizational psychology and contemporary multilevel analysis. Using these analytic techniques, examines the relationship between educational outcomes and the school environment. Finds that at least some indicators might be represented as school-level phenomena. Results imply that the…

Describes the Ibero American network for research on school effectiveness and school improvement created in 2000 to improve the quality of education in Ibero American countries through the exchange of information among educational researchers and the dissemination of research results to school practitioners. (Contains 19 references.) (PKP)

Clear and concise communication in school systems is one of the weakest links in many administrative practices. Ron Edmonds, a professor at Harvard University and Michigan State University, found that good educator-to-parent communication goes a long way in improving student achievement. (MLF)

Shows how California State University at Fullerton improved classroom allocation and scheduling efficiency while responding to student enrollment increases and campus renovation. Steps discussed include conducting facilities audits, assessing the scheduling process, allocating smaller rooms, and studying scheduling and foot traffic patterns. (GR)

Discusses challenges particular to urban middle schools. Describes collaborative services programs, and culturally relevant teaching as two effective ways to meet some of those challenges. Offers the example of an effective urban teacher, and discusses moving from a pedagogy of poverty to a pedagogy of success. (SR)

Describes procedures that can be used to summarize the effect of schools when interactions between school practice and student background exist. Applies these procedures to a fairly realistic school effects dataset. Highlights the importance of considering differential school effectiveness rather than using a single quantitative indicator. (SLD)