This paper reflects on experiences of working with schools in urban contexts as they have attempted to improve the quality of learning. Set within the context of the English education system during a period of intense national pressure to "raise standards", these experiences have been focused around issues of performance and leadership…

The expectation for schools to continually improve outcomes for students underscores the importance of tapping teacher leaders' contributions in school improvement and renewal efforts. As National Board (NB) certification has become a common feature of state and district policies to improve teaching and learning, it is worthwhile to explore how…

Before revising the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation under the new administration, policy makers need to be informed as to whether or not the NCLB labeling formula adequately distinguishes good-quality schools from poor-quality schools. This study tests this question, using rich descriptive data for Milwaukee's urban school district (MPS).…

In recent years the student population in the UK has grown considerably, and students are entering higher education with a more diverse range of qualifications and skills. This is particularly the case in post-1992 universities with a widening participation agenda, as these institutions have a larger share of students from non-traditional…

This paper describes the Action Research (AR) Team model for joining classroom observations with collegial interaction among university faculty, teaching assistants, and university students to improve pedagogy and the retention of diverse students in higher education. The paper includes a progress report of efforts to develop the model and apply…

A study examined the vocational counseling needs of youths in full-time employment and homeless youths in the United Kingdom. Available research regarding homeless young people and young people employed full time was reviewed to identify the following: their social and educational characteristics, their main transitions into/out of full-time…

The premises of this 2-year study are: first, what teachers know and can do is the most important influence on what students learn; second, recruiting, preparing, and retaining good teachers is the central strategy for improving our schools; and third, school reform cannot succeed unless it focuses on creating conditions in which teachers can…

This paper discusses the comprehensive evaluation of a new Ed.D. Program in Educational Leadership housed in East Carolina University's (ECU) School of Education. The program proposed to prepare students for professional life through development of career leadership skills; utilization, development, and dissemination of research; and service to…

This report explains phase two in the restructuring of the Montana University System. In this stage the process focuses on students rather than on the institution, and on the learning process and supporting activities. Four goals are established: (1) getting in, (2) getting through, (3) getting a job, and (4) "paying the way."…

The adult continuing education (ACE) programs provided under contract with the Gloucestershire (England) Adult Continuing Education Service were evaluated in January-February 1994. An evaluation team visited more than 60 venues, including main sites and a wide range of village halls, family centers, women's institute halls, and other outreach…

The school of education at Indiana University Southeast (IUS) adopted a program to incorporate technology into preservice teacher education and practicum training. Students in the program were nontraditional undergraduate junior and senior level elementary education majors. Students enrolled in a team-taught, 6-semester-hour block of Language…

The numbers of vocational education teachers, the number of institutions that provide training for vocational education teachers, and the number of schools that offer vocational education have been declining for the past 10 years or longer; at the same time, the average age of vocational education teachers has risen. As the teacher ranks and the…

In June 1991 the Iowa State Board of Education established a task force to conduct a comprehensive review of vocational-technical education in the state. The 10-member task force was asked to develop a vision for vocational-technical education in Iowa, including the roles and relationships between secondary and postsecondary education…

As is the case in many developing countries, Honduras's vocational training and job placement systems were plagued by high dropout and low job placement rates. After deciding that the issue of relevance was the key to improving the country's job training system, a trade advisory committee set about to develop a series of competency-based…

This handbook was developed as a resource for college campuses participating in Literacy Impact, a nationwide grassroots movement mobilizing college students, new readers, and their communities to increase awareness of literacy as a tool for social justice. Discussed in the introduction are the missions of SCALE (Student Coalition for Action in…