Three charter schools in southern Arizona--Pimeria Alta High School, Vail Charter High School, and VISION High School--were profiled to ascertain the role of school-to-work (STW) in charter schools. The profiles focused on the following: students' and parents' characteristics and reasons for selecting a charter school; and available facilities,…

Workplace and educational changes related to gender in Louisiana in 1996-97 suggest some progress but a continued need to reduce wide gender gaps in some occupational areas. Workplace data show a closing gender gap, but changes are occurring at different rates for different areas. Women's share of the total labor force continues to rise; wage…

This digest presents highlights from the Winter 1998 New Directions for Community Colleges volume titled "Determining the Economic Benefits of Attending Community College." The passage of the Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (VATEA) in 1990 gave incentives to states to develop accountability measures. Attempts are…

This case study investigated the impact of an institutional mission to internationalize on the daily educational experiences of higher education faculty and students. A secondary purpose of the study was to investigate the role of international students in the internationalization process. The study was conducted in two selected departments of a…

Teachers and administrators were surveyed to determine the extent to which AP Vertical Teams for English were implemented in schools. Results indicate that even though the goals of the AP Vertical Teams were only partially realized, there was some positive impact on student exposure to Pre-AP instruction and AP courses and student performance on…

The Data Quality Campaign is a national, collaborative effort to encourage and support state policymakers to improve the collection, availability and use of high-quality education data and to implement state longitudinal data systems to improve student achievement. The campaign aims to provide tools and resources that will assist state development…

The organization and operations of an evaluation unit in a local governmental agency are presented. How local evaluation units manage (1) external relations (to obtain funding, to gain access to data sources, and encourage evaluation use) and (2) internal operations (including staffing, communication, data collection, and analysis) are described.…

Since Franco's death in 1975, one of Spain's most pressing problems has been how to encourage regional autonomy without destroying national unity. This paper considers how two regional groups--the Catalans and the Basques--are using the schools to promote use of their traditional languages and to strengthen ethnic identity. (Author/SJL)

This case study of the Toronto Board of Education's secondary system thoroughly analyzes barriers to implementing antiracist education in a large, ethnically diverse education district. Findings highlight implementation difficulties, including poor leadership, lack of minorities in key positions, informal resistance, and decentralized decision…

The three-year Miami University (Ohio) project to develop teaching portfolios is described. The department-based approach acknowledges that departments and disciplines have different cultures, and that departments are where rewards are determined. Issues in portfolio development and use, including benefits and problems, are discussed and…

Because few teachers in Qwaqwa, South Africa know how to use computers and many view computers with disdain, the government mandated that schools create computer/media centers in schools. Describes Qwaqwa; its educational system; and the Boitjhorisong Inservice Training Centre. Discusses program implementation, and the training of clerical staff,…

Describes a qualitative evaluation of an elementary schoolwide computer implementation project. Highlights include the use of interviews, questionnaires, and surveys with teachers, students, and parents; changes in teacher attitudes and roles, classroom management, and classroom climate; and a model for creating a community of learners through the…

College and university learning communities build a sense of group identity. Institutions are establishing them for varied purposes and student populations, including first-year interest groups, general education core courses, gateway courses, developmental and basic studies, honors programs, and work in the major or minor. For implementation,…

Hunter College librarians and faculty collaborated in an interdisciplinary honors survey designed to familiarize undergraduates with electronic research tools and with statistical, geographical, desktop publishing, and graphics software. Participating librarians cited consumption of staff time, lack of a chain of command, and communications…

Interviews and teacher and principal surveys examined how Toronto (Canada) principals have responded to equity-based education initiatives. Describes barriers to implementation in secondary schools and offers strategies for making principals more effective in this area. Concludes that the principal's character and capacity to lead, combined with…