This article presents the chronology of events in China's education in 2003. The events of the year 2003 started in January 7 when the Ministry of Education promulgated the "Provincial Regulations on Joint Sino-Foreign Higher Education Programs," which was to take effect February 1, 2003. The events of the year 2003 ended with…

Nationally, the problem of teacher retention compounds the unstable nature of the educational situation, especially in urban, high-needs schools. Much of the instability of urban schools is due to teacher movement, the migration of teachers from school to another school within or between school districts, particularly from high-needs schools.…

One of the toughest hurdles to overcome in construction education is the varying levels of construction field experience among undergraduate students. Although an internship is a common construction management requirement, it is often completed after students complete classes in planning and scheduling. This poses a challenge for the modern…

Presenting a short summary of the advantages and disadvantages of four different year-round education calendars including three- and four-track schedules and four- and five-term quarter systems, this document contains numerous graphs, sample calendar models, and schedules. Also detailed within this document is a proposed year-round calendar for…

Current emphasis on individual educational plans for handicapped children presents a problem of matching one child's educational plan with that of other children and then grouping several such children together for instruction, such that the individual qualities of each child's program are still maintained. Teacher and child variables in a…

This report provides a simplified description of flexible-modular scheduling and of several types of instructional strategies that can be advantageously applied to high school curricula. Group size, facilities, and teaching roles are considered in the overall picture of flexible-modular scheduling. Large group instruction can conserve space,…

This study examined computerized scheduling in 16 Vancouver secondary schools by analyzing (1) the results of a questionnaire to the principals of the schools, (2) class size balancing by computer, and (3) the effect of additional simulate runs on the number of student conflicts and the "date of smooth operation." A simulate run is…

Previous research has shown that by varying instructional time, schools can better accommodate students' different rates of learning. One method that schools use to meet this challenge is block scheduling; different models which are described. The focus is on the benefits and disadvantages of various models. One of the benefits is block…

Summarizes the results of a study concerning the efficacy of block scheduling for music programs. High school band directors in Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky responded to questionnaires. Results were mixed, although most directors agreed that scheduling works best when music teachers and administrators work together to individualize a schedule.…

Regardless of their roles as business owners, center directors, school principals, or teachers, educational leaders are expected to be organized, sensitive, and unflappable. So, deciding what to do and when to do it are key to their success in achieving program goals, promoting staff excellence, or providing family and community appreciation.…

Regardless of where they live, incoming freshmen face the same problems nationwide, such as anxiety about entering a new school, social pressure, and increased academic pressure and responsibility. Freshman academies have been introduced in many larger schools to offset these issues. A typical freshman academy isolates freshmen from the rest of…

NEW TECHNIQUES IN SCHEDULING PERMIT MORE EFFICIENT USE OF TIME FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN PROGRAMING, AND PROVIDES A SEEDBED FOR INNOVATION. THE STANFORD SCHOOL SCHEDULING SYSTEM (S-4) IS A SET OF PROGRAMS THAT AUTOMATES THE SCHEDULING PROCESS. THE FIRST OF THE FOUR PROGRAMS, CTTA, (CARD TO TAPE AND AUDIT), DIRECTS THE…

This study investigated innovative trends in scheduling classes in relation to the traditional method of scheduling. The nongraded organization was examined in relation to the schools-within-a-school type of organization. Another aim of the study was to offer recommendations about scheduling and organization to administrators on the basis of the…

This paper argues that community colleges can increase their enrollment by offering 5-week courses that cover the same material as 15-week courses. Changing how they schedule classes will help community colleges to meet the changing needs of the students they serve. The paper analyzes the University of Phoenix (UP) (Arizona), which serves a…

This digest discusses block scheduling and it relates to teaching standards, staff development standards, and assessment standards. The standards are examined in terms of how they can be achieved through the use of block scheduling, and conclusions stress the necessity of scheduling for maximum student learning. (DDR)