This paper argues that many internationally financed literacy programs do not sufficiently take into consideration important daily life issues of the learners, including nutritional deficiencies that may hinder learning, or of children-parent-society interactions that may improve learning. As a result, many programs have become synonymous with…

This publication summarizes two surveys of teachers and researchers in Scotland on different aspects of staff development. In the first survey, teachers were asked what types of support they valued at times of change in the curriculum. A total of 165 questionnaires were returned by principal teachers from 45 of the 51 schools targeted by the first…

This book contains selected papers and excerpts from books by Seymour B. Sarason which chronicle the development of his ideas on educational change. Early papers addressed several themes that were later incorporated into a perspective of educational change: (1) professionalism is a combination of making mistakes and valuing one's own knowledge;…

This book presents different ways of viewing the teacher supervision process, based on a study of supervisors and teachers in a graduate program for beginning teachers sponsored by a college of education in the northwestern United States. Data were obtained through interviews, observation, and conversation analysis. Chapter 1 examines beliefs…

This paper presents findings of a case study of 4 first-year superintendents, which comprised part of a national study of 18 superintendents conducted from 1992-94. Data were collected from interviews, observation, and document analysis. All four superintendents had agendas focused on improving services for children. Three superintendents with the…

This book argues that principals must not only manage their schools, but more important, they must direct the learning in the schools. Chapter 1 describes the rewards, meaning, and challenges of an effective, learner-centered principalship. Chapter 2 details the personal and professional qualities of an effective principal, and chapter 3 describes…

The problems of at-risk students will require diversity in intervention strategies that are implemented to address their problems. This paper reviews three alternative educational strategies that may be used successfully with at-risk students: (1) independent study; (2) home schooling; and (3) programs designed to meet the needs of homeless…

With growing population diversity a feature of both the work force and the schools, a study was conducted to explore what implications diversity has for school preparation. Data from a national longitudinal study of students enrolled in both secondary and postsecondary programs featuring emerging vocationalism (programs featuring tech prep,…

This book traces the first year of a magnet school called Mega Center for Learning, established in 1990 in a large midwestern urban school district. It focuses on how the primary metaphors embedded in school documents and in stakeholders' perceptions and practices helped or hindered reform. Data were obtained from classroom observation; informal…

Computer animation can be effectively incorporated into computer based instruction programs for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning environments. Computer animation is defined as computer-generated animated graphics that function as visual aids to instruction. The applications of instructional graphics fall into two categories: (1)…

This report describes progress made by Westchester Community College (WCC), in New York, on 23 strategic planning goals in the 1994-95 academic year. Information is provided on the following goals: (1) increase flexibility in operating the college; (2) increase flexibility in providing innovative academic and vocational programs; (3) upgrade…

The development of the Best Practice Descriptor Statements by the New South Wales (NSW) Department of School Education provides schools with a set of criteria that will help them to become not only self-managing but self-monitoring. In this context, schools will be able to report on the health of their organization, resource needs, and staff…

This paper examines the implementation of California's 1987 policy promoting the untracking of middle schools, a reform endorsed by the state in both "Caught in the Middle" (1987) and the "English-Language Arts Framework (1987)." Specifically, the paper looks at changes in eighth-grade English tracking policies for a sample of…

This book serves as a resource guide to help people engage in a healthy, informed discussion of restructuring possibilities. Its focus is on creating readiness for school restructuring, which differs from both renewal and reform. Each chapter is similar in structure and designed to stand on its own. Each is short enough to be quickly read and then…

This book provides insights into one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive school-restructuring movements, the Accelerated Schools Project. Since its inception in 1986, the focus of the movement has been on transforming schools with students at risk of dropping out into schools with high expectations of all students. This is accomplished,…