This paper reviews selected research of the past decade concerning the optimal size of elementary and secondary schools in the United States. By quoting from primary sources, it seeks to present the character, substance, and trend of the school size debate; to identify principal researchers and findings; and to serve as a resource document. Small…

Focusing on the area of student participation, this paper considers the findings of a research project conducted by a team at the University of Western Sydney, Nepean, and funded by the New South Wales Department of School Education. The project was broadly focused on investigating the dynamics of communication within the school communities of…

Schools must change to meet the demands of an increasingly diverse population of children, many of whom are at risk of leaving school unprepared for a productive adult life. Research-based evidence indicates that the process of change has been a neglected area in policy implementation. The key factor is "facilitative leadership,"…

This document, the third part of a four-part analysis and assessment of Pakistan's system of primary education, presents findings from case studies of primary, middle, literacy, and skills education. The report's eight chapters are: (1) Introduction; (2) Study Methodology; (3) The Facilities; (4) School Personnel; (5) Instruction; (6) The…

A rationale for school-based evaluation, criteria for a sensible evaluation and assessment system, and a systematic process for implementing an evaluation and assessment system are presented. School-based evaluation can be used as a management tool and a means of improving aspects of teaching. Sensible evaluation must be aligned with school goals,…

This collection of essays focuses on the intersection between equity and excellence in educational leadership and urges a reconceptualization that gives appropriate consideration to women and ethnic and racial minorities. The book begins with an introductory chapter, entitled "Equity and Excellence in Educational Leadership: A Necessary…

The eight general session, exemplary practice, and roundtable papers contained in this conference proceedings report focus on various aspects of institutional effectiveness and student outcomes. The volume includes: (1) "Effectiveness and Student Success in Community Colleges: Practices, Realities, and Imperatives," by Peter Ewell; (2) "Rhetoric…

Questionnaires were mailed to parents of the 55 sixth graders in the 1988-89 year-round school pilot program in Conroe Independent School District in Texas and to those of sixth graders on the district's traditional calendar to determine parent perceptions and satisfaction regarding the year-round school calendar. The document also reviews the…

After describing the programs and staff at Ian Bazalgette Junior High School in Calgary, Canada, this document reviews the problems at the school in 1979 that led to the implementation of the Effective Schools Program. A review of literature related to effective schools precedes an explanation of seven school effectiveness factors adopted by the…

Addressing the need for research on rural schools, the Federal Interagency Committee on Education (FICE), Subcommittee on Rural Education, identified six priority topics representing the most compelling concerns of rural education. This pamphlet serves as a stimulus for researchers to study rural education issues and share their findings with the…

Advantages and examples of year-round education are discussed in this publication. Advantages include instructional benefits, relief from overcrowding, savings on operational and capital costs, increased teacher flexibility, improved attendance, and reduced vandalism. Guidelines for implementation, calendar design, and descriptions of various…

Findings of the National Commission on Testing and Public Policy concerning problems in testing are reported. Recommendations are proposed for restructuring educational and employment testing to help people develop their talents and become more productive, and to help institutions become more productive, accountable, and just. Over a 3-year…

Eleven residents of New Hampshire, representing business, education, parents, and state government, visited eight high schools in the state to determine if differences in school budgets affected the quality of education. Members of the study team spent one day in each school and weighed data on staffing, educational opportunities and results,…

A process is presented which uses two activities to obtain individual and group reaction to 20 recommendations selected from the recent studies of schooling. The recommendations cover a wide range of suggestions for improving the quality of education. In the first activity, participants assign a value on a five-point scale to each recommendation.…

This booklet describes the College Core Curriculum (CCC) program recently initiated at Phineas Banning Senior High School in Los Angeles, which is designed to encourage more students to become positive, effective learners and to better prepare them for postsecondary education. Following an outline of CCC's goals and a breakdown of its programs…