This final report describes the accomplishments and activities of a 5-year federally funded California systems change project supporting the development and replication of inclusive schools as part of the state's movement to provide the least restrictive educational environment for all students with severe disabilities. The project was a…

This packet contains materials for a professional development workshop series to prepare adult educators to design and implement instruction based on the SCANS skills, using a project-based approach to instruction. Session 1 is a full day, although facilitators may choose to make it two three-hour sessions. Session 2 is three and one-half hours.…

Facing History and Ourselves is an international educational non-profit organization that engages middle and high school teachers and their students in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism by relating the past to the world today. This annual report highlights the activities of this organization during 2002-2003. Detailed in this…

The intent of this "bottom-up" project was to create a community of learners to facilitate the implementation of computer technologies in the elementary school curriculum. The participants were 6 graduate students and their professor, 10 teachers (grades 1-5), their students, and the librarian in a Professional Development School. Each…

This paper analyzes the failure of a professional development school (PDS) initiative undertaken by a university department of education by using eight points from John P. Kotter's book "Leading Change," which describes conditions in business that prevent change and points to some necessary conditions for change to occur. The eight points and…

A study examined the extent to which Virginia Professional Development System (VPDS) components met practitioner needs and the degree to which they constituted an inquiry-based professional development system. Interviews with over 50 Virginia Institute for Lifelong Learning (VAILL) participants focused on their use of the Centers for Professional…

Papers in this collection focus on diverse issues in literacy ranging from motivation to wordless books to professional development schools. Papers in the collection, and their authors, are as follows: "The New Literacy and Reading Workshop: How Comfortable Is Too Comfortable?" (Jeanne Henry); "Fostering Reading Motivation: Insights…

This paper describes the establishment of shared governance in the College of Education at Mississippi State University, and the transformation of a dean's advisory council into a representative council with an expanding role. Emphasis is on the importance of defining the faculty council's role, its constituencies, its assessment procedures, and…

This book is based on a 6-year longitudinal study of collaboration in a professional development school (PDS) project involving 45 educators. Teachers and principals from the schools and faculty and doctoral students from the university work together to plan, implement, and evaluate a Master's of Education program. Part 1: "Issues and Challenges…

A four-year private suburban college and a city public school district collaboratively provided teacher education courses to paraprofessionals working with special needs students in general education classes. The two teacher education courses, offered on the school district's premises, were Teaching, Learning, and Growth and Instructional…

Noting that teachers and caregivers need an understanding of the fundamentals of developmentally appropriate practices in order to implement programs that meet the needs of young children, this revised guide serves as a practical tool for staff trainers and supervisors in early childhood education. The guide addresses five specific groups of early…

This paper documents renewal efforts between one university's College of Education and Human Services and K-12 partner schools, noting effective collaboration practices. This initiative was evaluated to determine major outcomes. Evaluation procedures were formatted to secure information from archival materials, focus group sessions, and a…

Aimed at secondary school library media specialists who are undertaking the transition to block scheduling, this book examines the essential components of the library media program in a block-scheduled school and provides useful handouts, lesson plans, and the experiences of four practitioners through their case studies. The following chapters are…

This document presents the proceedings and post-conference materials of the annual EDUCAUSE conference. The theme of this conference was "Thinking IT Through." Conference sessions are divided into six domains: Infrastructure and Basic Services; Teaching and Learning; Managing Information Technologies and Resources; Information Systems; New…

In the emerging economy, access and control of information and technology will greatly determine individual and national economic accomplishments. Two primary purposes of public schools--transmitting cultural values and providing socially beneficial knowledge--explain the substantial contribution of public education to employment, earnings, and…