This book proposes the possibility of "extraordinary change" in individuals and organizations and suggests a source of "boundless energy" for bringing those changes into being. That source is freed by removing internal barriers to change within oneself. It provides personal experiences of transformational learning to introduce…

This report is an outcome of the OSERS/OECD International Symposium on Inclusion and Professional Development held in Bethesda, Maryland, from September 24-26, 1998. The purpose of the symposium was to examine promising professional preparation practices that support the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education curriculum.…

These two newsletters from the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented (NRC/GT) contain the following articles: (1) "NRC/GT: Professional Development--Not an Event" (E. Jean Gubbins), discusses NRC/GT research-based principles related to professional development and the importance of ongoing professional development; (2)…

This publication contains an annotated bibliography and information on journals, organizations, and resources related to new approaches in rural education. The annotated bibliography describes 97 journal articles, ERIC digests, research reports, programs descriptions and evaluations, government reports, conference papers, and grant guides. Most…

An Australian study explored the implications of being a rural academic; distinguishing features of rural academics' work; perceptions of rural academics held by themselves and others; and contributions rural academics make to their institutions, disciplines, and communities. Interviews were conducted with 24 faculty members from 2 Australian…

This document provides the Side-by-Side Comparison, a tool to assist early care and development programs receiving funds from both Head Start and the California Department of Education to prepare for state and federal program monitoring reviews and to conduct self-evaluations. The instrument is designed to be used for the California coordinated…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a project designed to train specialized professionals in speech-language pathology to provide diagnostic, management, and preventative services to culturally diverse populations including African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Asian Americans whose needs are often neglected or…

As children learn to practice responsible behaviors, discipline problems in the early childhood classroom can be reduced. As Part 3 of a 3-part video series designed to help adults working with 3- to 8-year-olds use a proactive approach to prevent discipline problems, this video training package is comprised of a Facilitators' Guide, a Viewers'…

This book is intended to enable educators to more fully implement the concept of leadership capacity in schools and districts. It begins by outlining the five major prerequisites for high leadership capacity: (1) skillful participation in the work of leadership; (2) inquiry-based use of data to inform decisions and practices; (3) broad involvement…

This paper documents one university's use of action research to encourage preservice teachers' ongoing critical reflection as they negotiated diversity and community in their classrooms. Several supervisors developed a self-study research plan, meeting over 1 year to study several strategies for engaging preservice teachers in critical reflection.…

This paper describes how one Professional Development School (PDS) partnership successfully implemented a comprehensive integrated services approach that promoted interprofessional development and multidisciplinary leadership. Research suggests that collaboration is necessary if teachers, professional support staff, administrators, parents, and…

These Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) state action plans were initially developed in 1998 for the central regional states, which include Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. They detail the states' specific technical assistance needs, as well as the services to be provided by Mid-Continent…

For over 30 years, Foxfire has been developing an approach to learning that is learner-centered and community-focused. Foxfire's initial success resulted from a successful student-produced magazine in a rural Georgia high school. Attempts to duplicate this success often overlooked the key ingredients, student choice and academic integrity, that…

A key objective of a federally funded grant received by the Wake County Public Schools (North Carolina) was to develop new methods of assessment. The school district decided to fulfill this objective by developing student electronic portfolios. In spite of careful planning, the development of the electronic portfolios was filled with difficulties.…

In response to a Congressional mandate in conjunction with the Protection of Children from Sexual Predators Act of 1998, a committee of experts was formed to explore both technical and nontechnical strategies for protecting children from pornography and other inappropriate Internet content. This book summarizes a workshop held in December 2000 to…