Theoretical traditions concerning school environments and student achievement are described, and their insights are linked with analyses of school and classroom interactions to develop a simple conceptual model of environmental influences on student achievement. The literature regarding environmental influences is then reviewed, and the last…

The purpose of this paper was to examine an approach to assessing educational needs for school board members, superintendents, and principals and to do that in a way that counteracts the remarkable amount of trivia that has been written on this particular topic. The EASI instrument--Educational Administration Skills Inventory--was used to produce…

This book examines the conditions for learning from the perspective of those students for whom schools are not productive and satisfying settings. Both current and desired characteristics of school environments are examined from the standpoint of their effect on marginal students. Questions probed include how difficulties begin and why individuals…

The paper summarizes a study of the educational environments of profoundly handicapped pupils enrolled in special education classes relative to the types of learning experiences, social opportunities, and services provided by three teachers in the San Diego, California, school district. The teachers were all in their first year working with the…

This study adds to the effective schools debate a criticism of existing criteria--based on standardized achievement test profiles--for targeting schools for intervention programs. Qualitative and quantitative methods of gathering data result in conflicting assessments of the magnet elementary school studied as needing or not needing intervention.…

This preliminary report summarizes findings from a study of over 400 black graduate and professional students on eight, majority white, state-supported university campuses nationally. Students reported high professional achievement goals and self-concepts, generally came from families displaying high levels of academic and occupational…

Research extending back into the 1890's reveals that the quality of classroom instruction depends not upon differing curricula, for example, but rather upon the attitudes and actions of teachers. Instructional effectiveness is especially important for independent schools, yet availability as well as quality of candidates has dropped markedly.…

The study described in this book examined at close range the experiences of 12 elementary school students (enrolled in two schools) who were considered at-risk within the context of their specific classroom and school. The meaning of at-risk status to the teachers and other school personnel is determined, and the interaction between the context…

This survey is based on interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,208 teachers, including an oversample of minority teachers in the nation's public schools. Over 2,700 school children in grades 4 through 12 were also interviewed, allowing for a comparison of teachers' and students' perceptions. The focus of the survey is on how…

The development and validation of the Home Learning Environment Profile (HLEP) are outlined. The HLEP instrument was designed to assess successful preschool home educational programs for Hawaiian families. The instrument covers sociodemographic, cultural, and environmental factors of Hawaiian families. After an extensive review of published…

Effective schools provide at-risk students with a community of support that encourages school membership and educational engagement. This study describes effective dropout prevention programs, develops a generalizable, theoretical framework for understanding the relationship between at-risk students and their schools, and suggests local and state…

This report presents an update of the facts surrounding adolescent alcohol and drug abuse and provides resources to assist school boards in developing effective school policies addressing the problem. The prevalence of drug and alcohol use among young people is demonstrated by the results of a survey of the high school class of 1986. Areas of…

Designed as the first in a proposed set of three documents to be used to review elementary school programs in California, this guide describes the quality criteria used to judge program effectiveness for students. Criteria for a quality school program are provided in 13 areas: reading; written language; school effectiveness; special needs; oral…

This textbook provides a curriculum for administrator preparation courses based on guidelines established in 1979 by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Advisory Committee on Higher Education Relationships. Each chapter provides ideas for successful practices and suggested activities to provide actual experience in each area…

This practical self-help guide approaches the topic of student discipline from the practitioner's perspective. Chapter 1 prescribes a teamwork approach to schoolwide and classroom discipline, involving a schoolwide commitment to mutual respect among students and staff and positive classroom management by teachers. Chapter 2 offers, as practical…