Describes the efforts of Canadian provinces to create more effective, efficient, and diverse educational systems. Discusses the four principles of new delivery-system design, the ideal school district size, current trends in school governance, legal issues, and linguistic and religious educational rights. (Nine references) (LMI)

Describes several projects that have enabled teachers to leave the isolation of their own classrooms and think together about student work in the broader contexts of school improvement and professional development. (Contains 18 references.) (Author/MLF)

Analyzed professional development spending at a recently restructured urban high school using information from budget and planning documents and interviews with school and district personnel. Data show that teachers in this school received $9,711 professional development resources on average with 98% of the spending on teacher time and training.…

Describes the restructuring process that Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Michigan, underwent over an 18-month period. Describes establishing the need for change and getting the major players involved (the staff, parents and the community, students, and the central office and board of education). (RS)

School leaders should use the charter-school movement as an opportunity to involve all community members in designing all schools and changing schooling's managerial structure. The Advocacy Design Center process is a community-building strategy based on democratic values and research-based models. The idea is to create vital, inquiry-based schools…

Australia's National Schools Project tried to facilitate restructuring by abolishing, bending, or breaking the rules that prevented schools from improving student outcomes. Since 1992, the 50-school project has expanded to over 200 sites. An evaluation of three NSP schools identifies barriers (cultural resistance and structural complexity) and…

Offers a framework for thinking about ethical principles through the use of codes of ethics. Examines the ethical issues of restructuring and discusses specific ethical dilemmas. Specifically outlines ethics related to resources allocation and management, and details critical points in restructuring. Argues that ethical guidelines help shape…

A Massachusetts regional high school that was formerly on probation has totally restructured its school day, culture, curriculum, and treatment of professionals. Flex time, offered in exchange for performing building supervision duties, allows teachers more flexibility and control in structuring their professional and personal lives. A more…

Helping every youngster reach his or her potential is a daunting task, but it can be done. Site-based administrators who incorporate leadership guidelines that define the vision, create a positive climate, initiate action, and advocate an equitable learning environment for all students will awaken one day to discover that all students are…

The type of professional community found within a school and its consequences for teachers' sense of responsibility for student learning were studied at 24 elementary, middle, and secondary schools through questionnaires completed by 910 teachers and interviews with 144. Results suggest wide variation in professional community among schools. (SLD)

Teacher union leaders suggest that instead of focusing solely on pay and benefits, unions need to turn their attention to the larger issues of professionalism and teacher quality. The national agenda doesn't necessarily filter down to state associations or local unions. Summarizes union positions of school reform issues. (MLF)

Examines how 18 school principals and assistant principals from 4 midsized school districts understood the meaning of inclusion and what processes (restructuring or reculturing) they would use to implement inclusion in their schools. Concludes that principals' inclusion implementation strategy focuses on school restructuring rather than…

Interprets the development toward greater and less regulation in U.S. educational reform movements in the context of state power. Reviews core and ancillary reform strategies and reflects on reform as the decline of an organizational consensus. (SK)

Guidelines are offered for those involved in a shift from a more secondary oriented, departmentally organized school to a middle level perspective that is more sensitive to the needs of young adolescents. (MLF)

Examines the underlying forces prompting fundamental change in community colleges to meet the requirements of the Information Age. Recommends that community colleges direct institutional energy toward thinking holistically, streamlining governance, redefining faculty roles, diversifying funding, increasing student options, assuring educational…