The educational change strategy termed "reaching success through involvement" (RSI) has yielded promising results in creating school effectiveness. This paper analyzes the theoretical bases and practical applications of RSI strategy among 14 schools over an 8-year period. RSI theory assumes that educational organizations are dynamic social systems…

A rural Vermont school district instituted needed and desired changes during a 3-year improvement effort. A 1982 needs assessment evaluated school performance in seven areas found to exist in effective schools. Change efforts followed three principles: all curriculum and policy changes were done on a district-wide and K-12 basis, teachers were not…

This guide is intended to serve as a systematic checklist for evaluators of vocational training institutions and for directors of schools or skills centers who want to identify areas in need of improvement. Discussed first are steps in defining the purpose of the evaluation (nature and objectives of the project, point of view, and the initial…

This document outlines an overall plan of action for improving school effectiveness in the Spencerport (New York) school system. This master plan (developed by a leadership planning team consisting of key personnel in the Spencerport system, in cooperation with the Institute of Research on Teaching, College of Education, Michigan State University)…

In anticipation of teacher shortages in liberal arts disciplines, a study was conducted to investigate how community college administrators in the 19-state Council of North Central Community/Junior College Region planned to recruit faculty in general education disciplines over the next 5 years. In spring 1986, 353 community and junior college…

While the federal government has always been a junior partner to state and local agencies in financing and operating public schools, the impact of federal policies on schools continues to be a topic of debate by researchers, policymakers, and the public. This paper reviews the rapidly expanding but dispersed literature on federal involvement in…

Using the 1981 Education Act of England and Wales as a case study, this paper develops a conceptual framework of education legislation as a significant reference point in the process of negotiation and bargaining that initiates legislation and continues throughout the period of policy implementation. A model of the policy process and the…

A guide to acquiring information needed about postsecondary education outcomes is presented for campus and state-level officials. Attention is directed to: over 200 outcome measures or indicators; standard definitions of each outcome measure; data sources and procedures to acquire data for each outcome measure; and suggestions concerning the…

There is a need for educational research even during financial difficulties. Wisdom and efficiency in spending, careful data collection, and collaboration among agencies should be important goals while resources are scarce. Considering the situation, this paper describes critical issues in elementary and secondary education and the manner in which…

The role of faculty in student development is considered. The history of the student development movement from the Colonial period to the twentieth century and major student development theories are also reviewed. Important objectives of contemporary student development are identified: to promote students' intellectual and individual development;…

This book is a collection of essays about Hispanics in America, their impact upon the social structure of American society, and implications for the country's future social agenda. Each essay is preceded by an abstract and concludes with references. The essays (and authors) are: 1) "A Demographic Portrait" (Teresa A. Sullivan); 2)…

This study examines the relationships between various elements of property wealth and operating expenditures per pupil by types of school district--elementary (K-8), high (9-12), and unit (K-12). Elements of property wealth were defined as the equalized assessed valuation per pupil for each of the following property tax classifications:…

A guide for educators seeking to reform programs and teaching methods at established medical schools is presented. Focused on practical problems, attention is directed to an innovative curricular track and the ideas, experiences, and discussions presented during a conference attended by educators at eight institutions that have used the track…

The Task Force on Student Financial Aid was formed to recommend ways in which Massachusetts' student aid programs might be modified in light of nationwide trends of rising college costs, reduced availability of federal student assistance, and a decline in the ability of many families to pay for college. The first chapter of the task force report,…

Every high school student should not only be provided with appropriate academic instruction but with supervised work experience as well. For the past 70 years, the number of students in cooperative education programs has grown steadily. Despite these steady gains, the best estimates place no more than 10 percent of all vocational education…