Maintains that the traditional role of standards in elementary curriculum development is that of asking important questions regarding quality curriculum design and instruction. Presents seven questions to guide teachers as they utilize the standards. (CFR)

Overviews the impetus for an overhaul of the U.S. educational system with special reference to reform of foreign language education. The author covers goals, standards, implementation of new policies, local control, interdisciplinary teaching, teacher education, parental role, assessment techniques and staffing. Two responses to this overview are…

Discusses three major roles of the academic library reference department manager: managing reference personnel, including training, communication, performance evaluation, and conflict resolution; implementing new technologies, including assessment of users' needs; and leadership and planning for future changes, including strategic planning,…

Outlines a distance education Certificate in Education program for teachers in the Commonwealth Caribbean, administered by the University of the West Indies in association with the University of London. Highlights the learning modules of the Teaching of Social Studies option. Examines student evaluation and explores problems that arise in…

Asserts that art teachers must understand current learning theory and implement new cognitive concepts to provide the best art education for K-12 students. Reviews major ideas in cognitive learning theory, focusing on the idea that thinking is domain, or content, specific. (CFR)

Reviews the history of the concept of equal educational opportunity, noting the shift from a separate-but-equal input definition to an opportunity-to-learn process interpretation. Also discussed are implications of the definition of opportunity to learn for professional development and the education of African-American students. (SLD)

Discusses the role of standards, assessment, and program evaluation in the University of Southern Maine's Professional Development School (PDS) model. University and PDS faculty support standards-based assessment that is integral to the one-year graduate teaching internship and preparation program. Evidence indicates that shared responsibility for…

Reviews many aspects of contemporary preservice-teacher-education programs in the U.S., describing the following: the evolution of programs in education; teacher-preparation programs (curriculum, conceptual orientations, program structure, and providers); teacher credentialing and licensure; and current issues in teacher education (education as a…

Warm Springs Elementary School (Oregon) received national recognition for its model professional development program due to principal Dawn Smith's leadership. Reduction of teacher turnover and student misbehavior at the reservation school was followed by Title I and charter school status, and English-as-second language and American Indian language…

Investigates the impact of involvement with professional development schools (PDS's) on how colleges prepare teachers, following several partnerships longitudinally. The paper examines how changes in teacher education have resulted from PDS involvement, discusses the question of institutionalization of PDSs, and describes the potential for PDSs to…

Discusses changes in the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA) and Title I designed to help disadvantaged students meet the higher academic standards of school reform. Changes include emphasizing high-quality teaching and professional development, shifting decision making to the school level, creating a link between Title I and other IASA…

This article examines the literacy of Latino students and related educational issues, including the need for more informed educators, the distinctive nature of instruction for Latino students, alternative literacies, facilitating the transfer of information from first language and life experience to school-based tasks, xenophobia and linguicism,…

Career development theories do not typically highlight their relevance to the school-to-work transition process. This issue features articles that examine how several prominent career development theories (person-environment fit, social learning, developmental, and social cognitive) can be brought to bear on this process. Three discussants assess…

Discusses contributions of Krumboltz & Worthington, 1999; Lent, Hacket, & Brown, 1999; Savickas, 1999; Swanson & Fouad, 1999 to the application of career development theories to the school-to-work transition. Concludes with recommendation that theory-building efforts derived from the individual experience of work-bound youth should be included in…

Numerous reports and articles have decried the mediocrity of U.S. students' foreign language skills and have called for improved language education. One study that looked at foreign language education in 19 countries suggests several characteristics of successful foreign language programs: starting early, providing an articulated framework,…