In 1989, the Focus on Access, Community, and Excellence in Teaching (FACET) Commission was created at St. Petersburg Junior College (SPJC) to develop recommendations to guide the college into the 21st century. The Commission's work plan included the definition of SPJC's educational standards; open hearings to solicit ideas from students, faculty,…

Designed for use by college administrators and staff, as well as by boards of trustees and legislators, this seven-part report outlines an approach to assessing institutional effectiveness which utilizes mission-based, student-centered indicators of success. Resources to assist practitioners in conducting such an assessment are also identified.…

This survey project of 129 randomly selected school systems in Ontario, Canada, investigates: (1) dominant patterns among secondary principals' practices and their effectiveness in the improvement of school processes and outcomes; (2) differences in practices between elementary and secondary school principals; (3) factors determining secondary…

From a sample of 6,000 pupils in a Tennessee school district, this study relates the variables of gender, social class, and number of parents in student households to achievement on a norm-referenced test. Charts presenting data findings comprise three-fourths of the document. Investigation was motivated by studies that connect student learning…

A suspension school for secondary students, established in the 1977-78 school year in an Arkansas school district has developed specific program goals and procedures. Following a discussion of the school's origins, this paper describes operating procedures, philosophy, support system, and student reaction. Suspensions declined considerably through…

To improve the quality of teaching in New York State's schools, state and local policy-makers must consider a number of issues that affect teaching quality. These issues are outlined in this booklet, which also provides a number of policy recommendations. The basic concepts reviewed are (1) the assumptions that underlie the collaborative endeavor…

The New York State hearings (held on May 10-11, 1984, in New York City) reported on in this document focused on three areas of public education considered key to inequity: the denial of equal access to school resources, the denial of equal quality in the learning process, and the denial of open futures in the link between school and work. The…

For the past 2 years, the Regional Laboratory for Educational Improvement of the Northeast and Islands has produced issue synopses for distribution to policymakers in New England, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The purpose of these publications is to acquaint policy makers and their staffs with the major educational issues their…

Recent college assessment initiatives of the federal government, regional accrediting associations, state systems of higher education, and higher education institutions are examined. The goals and strategies of existing college assessment programs are also considered. The following issues related to developing and implementing college assessment…

A research study of the implementation of "good ideas" in 14 schools came to the conclusion that differences in school organization and climate cause differences in the success of school improvement. Specific aspects of organization and climate in these schools, called factors of school context, are the following: resources, incentives,…

During a study examining vocational trends and priorities in Missouri, separate survey instruments were sent to 1,471 employers, 843 teachers, and 2,108 students in order to gather data on the following topics: the performance of vocational education, its priorities, collaboration between vocational education and the world of work, and indicators…

The papers in this compilation address excellence in vocational education from the perspectives of four educational levels--secondary, postsecondary, adult, and teacher education. The implications of the recent national study reports on education are examined for each level, and standards of excellence and recommendations for action are suggested.…

Suggestions are made in this book for making significant improvements in the schools. Based on "A Study of Schooling," an extensive on-the-scene investigation of classrooms across the country, the suggestions for significant improvement begin with the premise that the schools must be redesigned piece by piece. All aspects of schooling…

In open-ended interviews, students characterized their teachers as: mean, hard, easy, good, strict, fun, or nice. Analyses of later student interviews suggested that, when these seventh-grade students conceptualize their teachers, they attend to four major foci: (1) academic work students are expected to complete; (2) teachers' instructional…

Written for educators, legislators, and the general public, this monograph is a resource for better understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the one-teacher school. The material is designed to inspire more confidence in the quality of education possible in rural America and to reinforce recognition that most schools--regardless of size--can…