Based upon principles of inquiry, collaboration, and action research, the Quest project supports and investigates ongoing school improvement efforts in a four-state region (Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Virginia). Since 1996, Quest activities have included biannual conferences and summer symposia for school improvement teams, a Scholars…

This catalog describes 44 school-reform models. It was prepared for the U.S. Department of Education in direct response to the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration program. The catalog's purpose is to aid schools, school districts, and states as they investigate external models that can be incorporated into comprehensive school-reform…

Many front-line managers who are assuming more financial responsibility for their organizations find traditional cost accounting inadequate for their needs and are turning to Activity Based Costing (ABC). ABC is not a financial reporting system to serve the needs of regulatory agencies, but a tool that tracks costs from the general ledger…

This article examines work performance and incentive plans in three companies in an effort to identify the socioeconomic conditions and influences responsible for their difficulties in improving work performance. (Editor)

Implementing recommendations derived from research and literature on school effectiveness, 20 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) schools have set and enforced standards that reflect their belief in their students' ability to achieve. (Author/JM)

This superintendent-mandated school improvement program has improved test scores and brought about teacher, student, and parent support for participating junior high schools. (Author)

The author expresses his agreement with the recommendation that teacher education be upgraded--suggested in the preceding article by Gideonse in the same issue--but sets forth some additional problems to be overcome. (Author/JM)

Explores the similarities and differences among three thinking skills programs that help students analyze and evaluate their own problem-solving skills. (MLF)

This article describes a pilot program to identify students with irregular attendance and to coordinate follow-up services for them. (SJL)

Describes the process by which one institution created a comprehensive faculty development program by systematically following general guidelines drawn from the literature. Makes recommendations for developing a task force and initiating a program. Design and development of program conforms to four generic characteristics of faculty development…

Describes the experience of two small colleges, Chatham and Wesley, that survived the financial distress common to small school today. Discusses their lessons: reinforce strengths, rebuild the strongest financial source, diversify income, manage debt, and run a disciplined budget and financial management system. (EV)

Examines the effectiveness of five college level learning skills centers on grade improvement and retention. Finds successful programs are well structured, link with academic courses students take concurrently, stress a supportive relationship with the instructor, include behavioral counseling, are interwoven with other services and programs, and…

Systemic reform efforts are being widely utilized as a tool in school improvement. In the next decade, math and science are becoming a focus for improvement, as are the issues of privatization and collaboration. Asks school business officials questions to reveal how dedicated to change they are. (KDP)

Reviews the "Access America" report which was published in 1997 as a follow up to the National Performance Review, an assessment of federal government operations and procedures. Discusses future goals of the use of electronic services and information technology to improve government operations, systems integration, cost reduction,…