Results from the evaluation of a large-scale educational intervention designed to prevent school disruption suggest that altering the school organization is a more effective approach to delinquency prevention than treating individuals. Data for this comparison came from the evaluation of a school-based delinquency prevention program, Project…

Two large, complex organizations (an urban school district and a neighboring college of education of a major State-funded university) have developed and applied a collaborative model of interaction and resource enhancement in response to resource contradiction and environmental turbulence. This paper (1) presents a conceptual framework of…

This paper outlines the Callaway Action Plan for an Effective School (CAPES), a three year plan of action designed to produce the following characteristics of an "effective school": (1) administrative leadership; (2) instructional focus; (3) an orderly, safe environment; (4) high teacher expectations of students; and (5) the use of…

This paper provides a review of three related literatures on urban education: the demographic characteristics of the students and communities served by urban schools; some notable urban educational policies and practices; and issues and trends in equity research. The following trends and issues in school programs and practices specifically related…

The Ardmore, Oklahoma, School District developed the 3-year Pyramid Project to implement the following recommendations of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation Study of exemplary programs for high ability students: (1) broaden the process for assessing student abilities, (2) adopt continuous progress and appropriate pacing, (3) cultivate students'…

This essay addresses the school improvement process based on Effective Schools Research (ESR) and its commitment to equitable and quality education for minority and poor children. After briefly discussing general attributes of ESR-based programs, the essay explains major premises of the effective school. The first premise sets teaching and…

To develop a list of research priorities for rural education, members of the Rural Education Association's (REA) Research Committee and Executive Board were asked to rank order nine thematic research categories. The ranking process resulted in the following list (starting with the highest priority): (1) rural school effectiveness; (2) staff…

The Comprehensive School Improvement Program (CSIP), a holistic school improvement plan currently operating in selected New York City schools, is explained in this guide. The handbook is divided into three sections. Section 1 discusses the goals of the CSIP, which are to enable the principal to become a more effective instructional leader of the…

Options and alternatives for an amended reauthorization of Chapter 1 grants are reviewed. New suggestions are presented for compensatory education service delivery, eligibility, and the allocation of resources. The choices, each of which is examined in detail in this report, include the following: (1) change the methods by which non-public schools…

In order to facilitate the transition to a multiracial community and to meet the prevailing desire for academic excellence, magnet schools have arisen in urban areas throughout the country. These schools meet racial quotas through voluntary enrollment and open access, promote integration through cooperative learning practices, emphasize personal…

Low levels of student achievement and school quality persist in developing countries. This document reviews the importance of school quality in increasing literacy and influencing economic growth in developing nations. Improvements are discussed in terms of: (1) school quality and economic development; (2) defining school quality; (3) improving…

The validity of the Secondary School Improvement Program Effective Schools Survey (SSIPESS) was studied, which is based on the Santa Clara County School Effectiveness Program. The SSIPESS, designed for the secondary school level, is an 85-item survey designed for teachers; and it varies from a three- to five-point scale, with eight underlying…

The papers presented at this conference review current research on effective educational practices for low-achieving students and identify those that might be applied to programs funded under Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. A function assumed by several conference participants was to act as reactor to papers…

The papers presented at this conference review current research on effective educational practices for low-achieving students and identify those that might be applied to programs funded under Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. This reaction report focuses on the relationship between compensatory education and…

There is an urgent need for the development of learning environments that are especially suited to disadvantaged minority youth. Much of that which needs altering is the climate or atmosphere within existing schools. Determining the nature of this learning environment is a continuing problem in educational research. This document reports a study…