For substantial change to occur, a school system must understand the components of change: identifying assumptions, analyzing choices, making commitments, selecting and implementing appropriate actions, and engaging in critical reflection. Schools must also identify and manage key success factors for building capacity (ability and willingness) to…

Following corporations' lead, school districts' annual reports have become glossier, but also more substantial and sophisticated. They focus on what communities want to know, articulate a vision, and describe its implementation, displaying hard numbers and trend projections. Winners in a National School Public Relations Association contest are…

Presents ideas which offer a change from the normal school library media center orientation. Suggestions include: name tags, relay races for information, Dewey Decimal Hopscotch, written descriptions of the library media center, introduction of sections of the library media center with answers for students to supply questions to, short quizzes,…

This article discusses the problems with traditional methods of assessing bilingual students and describes curriculum-based measurement (CBM) for use with bilingual Hispanic students. Additional information about the features of CBM is presented along with issues related to the use of CBM with bilingual Hispanic students. (Contains references.)…

Guidelines are proposed for the prevention and reduction of risk of child maltreatment associated with cultural differences, conflicts, and misinterpretations. These guidelines are based on a conceptual framework derived from the multicultural reality of Israeli society and are supported by studies on cross-cultural child development, immigration,…

This article describes how students with disabilities can utilize a combination of customized home pages and assistive technology tools to access the World Wide Web. Tips for designing Web pages with specific modifications for students with different disabilities are provided, along with general design guidelines. (Contains seven references.) (CR)

A Tucson principal learned that denial and traditional administrative strategies cannot mitigate evolving gang activity. He recommends that school leaders use respect; provide relevant programs; establish a zero-tolerance policy for weapons, drugs, and violence; create parent patrols; keep video records; regulate attire; welcome police; support…

Presents a model instructional session that was prepared and taught by librarians to introduce college students, faculty, and staff to the Internet by teaching them how to join listservs and topic-centered discussion groups. Describes the sessions' audience, learning objectives, facility, and course design. Presents a checklist for preparing an…

Discusses the training of information professionals to use new technologies and provides two educational continua, depending on the knowledge base or level of competency, that may be used as guidelines for designing a new curriculum. Hardware and software continua are described based on an educational taxonomy in the cognitive domain. (LRW)

Discusses programs developed at the Andrews University (Michigan) library to help international students develop library skills. Bibliographic instruction workshops and English Language Institute classes are described; and guidelines for successful workshops are suggested, including hands-on experience, targeting individual needs, publicity, and…

Explores the use, revision, and evaluation of a written, self-paced tour that precedes librarian-led instruction at the Indiana State University library. Presents student reactions to the tour and its accompanying exercises. Guidelines for administering the tour and a questionnaire on tour use are appended for readers to answer and submit to the…

The special classroom design needs implied by different teaching methods (lecture, discussion, lecture with audiovisuals, group instruction via computer, self-paced learning, specialized teaching) are examined; and classroom planning considerations are discussed. Three fixed-design room types are described and their advantages and disadvantages…

Discusses hurdles to new principals' success. Principals must respect school culture, including ghosts and heroes; realize that working relationships will change; and anticipate isolation and overwork. Meeting individual teachers, locating the power, keeping central administrators informed, listening and learning, finding mentors, and picking…

Focuses on assessing student learning in relation to the National Standards for Music Education, covering topics such as content-related evidence of validity (the extent to which an assessment covers the content of instruction), assessment frameworks, weighing content areas, and frequency of assessment. Provides recommendations. (CMK)

Working together, schools and families can provide a character-based approach to sexuality education. Schools can give parents a wake-up call, provide historical perspective, share good news, encourage parents to talk with kids, help discuss dangers, identify rewards of waiting, give guidelines, and support chaste lifestyles. (Contains 21…