A study assessed how literacy professionals acquire knowledge as well as what knowledge they possess and value. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of K-12 teachers, reading specialists, administrators, library-media specialists, and teacher educators in the United States. Results were based on 1,519 responses and are discussed in terms…

Recommendations for reform of principal-preparation programs identify schools and school districts as important agents in the principal-preparation process. In the 1993-94 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), public school principals indicated whether or not they had formerly…

Previous studies by the Primary Schools Research and Development Group at the University of Birmingham (England) raised questions about the nature of the professionalism to which primary school teachers lay claim. This study, intended to explore professionalism among teachers of young children, looked "back" over aspects of the history…

The collaborative schools networks are an important means for modernizing education in the Netherlands. The freedom of organization allowed by the Dutch educational system results in schools having more responsibility for their own financial affairs, task differentiation for staff, and curriculum organization and structure. Nearly 70 percent of…

England and Wales have undergone dramatic educational reforms during the 1980s and 1990s. This paper presents findings of a study that explored three headteachers' perceptions of leadership in English and Welsh primary schools. Data were obtained through interviews, a staff questionnaire, observation, and document review. Findings indicate that…

This paper reports on a two-year professional development project, Teachers Raising Achievement in Mathematics. This action research project involved 8 intermediate school teachers and 10 secondary school teachers who were asked to: (1) examine their own classroom practices and the effect that these had on students' learning, (2) decide what…

The Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) is the most comprehensive reform legislation nationally, bringing substantial change to all levels of the educational system. A group of researchers who have spent time in schools in Kentucky and policy analysts knowledgeable about Kentucky and other state education reform efforts convened in October 1992…

This guide resulted from the Teachers Assisting Teachers (T.A.T.) Program, which was established to address specific staff development issues that were created by the implementation of the National Workplace Literacy Program. The TAT program pairs workplace literacy teachers as mentors to help both teachers improve their teaching skills. Two…

Adjunct professors are used widely to teach the great number of elementary composition courses for freshmen. Too often, they are underpaid, overworked, and undertrained. One sad result of this is that the experience for students in these classes varies from class to class as novice teachers cast about for a way of handling a writing curriculum…

The objective of this naturalistic study was to describe the preservice, inservice, and life experiences of exemplary science teachers to determine what kinds of experiences have made a difference in their teaching practices. Six Elementary Science Presidential Awardees from Texas were identified by the Preservice Elementary Science Action Team of…

Making psychologists in schools indispensable is essential if psychology in education is going to survive and prosper during the 21st century. This book presents the reflections of 27 leaders in the field of school psychology on the issue of what can make psychologists in schools indispensable. Chapters are: Becoming Indispensable Through Mental…

What does comprehensive or systemic restructuring look like, and how does it affect the students and staff of a high school that undertakes such an effort? This guidebook describes a model for comprehensive high school restructuring, discusses how 10 high schools undergoing restructuring are addressing the 7 critical elements of the restructuring…

Since 1991, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has signed cooperative agreements with 26 states to undertake ambitious and comprehensive initiatives to reform science, mathematics, and technology education. This effort to improve public education is known as the Statewide Systemic Initiatives (SSI). This brief presents some initial observations…

This study sought the opinions of teachers, all members of the American Federation of Teachers, on issues such as student discipline, common academic standards, inclusion, professional development, and school reform. The telephone survey of a sample of 800 teachers from kindergarten through Grade 12 was conducted in Spring, 1995. Findings include…

This booklet, the result of meetings of a college faculty seminar held during academic year 1989-1990 provides observations and advice concerning the basics on how to get published. The advice comes from faculty experience and the thoughts offered from invited guests familiar with writing, editing, and publishing in the academy. The booklet…