Schools in East Oakland (California) serving minority groups experienced overcrowding, poor attendance and graduation rates, and violence. Community groups pressured the school district into opening six new, small charter schools and creating schools within schools at the high schools. Cooperation among community groups, the district, and the Bay…

Research reports from multiple studies in dozens of states have shown there are advantages to learning in small schools. To take advantage of the assets of rural schools and small-town survival, new state policy directions will be necessary in finance, facilities, teacher pay, preparation, and professional and curriculum development. (Contains 10…

A study surveyed 19 student teachers placed in rural Saskatchewan communities and their cooperating teachers. Advantages of rural placements were better acquaintance with students and families, high community involvement, supportive atmosphere, opportunities to engage in various activities, fewer discipline problems, and rural lifestyle.…

Urges two-year colleges to refocus their mission and goals in light of their poor image and status in higher education; their largely urban location; and their nontraditional, often high-risk, student population. Argues for cohesiveness in institutional mission, and new curricula more sensitive to students' urban context, demographics, and career…

Analysis of an exemplary lesson by a Yupik first grade teacher reveals that the teacher contextualized the lesson by choosing a cultural activity, using an interactional style of teacher demonstration and student observation and demonstration, and emphasizing the importance of the activity to community and kin. Contains 27 references. (SV)

Examines three periods of U.S. history, the 1940s and 1950s, the 1960s and 1970s, and the first half of the 1980s to illuminate the developments in moral education. Offers the five Es: (1) Example; (2) Explanation; (3) Exhortation; (4) Environment; and (5) Experience; to assist schools and teachers in modeling moral excellence. (CH)

Argues that the "social capital" provided to schools by parent and community involvement has been eroded in rural areas by school consolidation, centralization, and urban models, placing all rural students at risk. Traces this erosion in one rural West Virginia school district. Contains 19 references. (SV)

Reports how the prolonged 1978 Levittown (New York) teachers strike initially depleted resources and created problems but proved to be the impetus for development of an effective school system. Reviews sources of conflict that led to the strike, reactions of community and teachers, and reforms focused on teacher empowerment. (FMW)

The paper describes the University of Florida Multidisciplinary Diagnostic and Training Program (MDTP) which emphasizes multidisciplinary teaming in services to exceptional students, their teachers and parents, and university students. Presented are evaluation data on MDTP functions, and a discussion of the implications of a university-based…

Outlines the primary arguments and much of the available evidence on desirable school size. Summarizes important factors in the history of U.S. school consolidation. Suggests that the key to the school size debate may be educational control rather than educational quality. Contains 39 references. (SV)

Public schools in Illinois have been developing policies for students and employees with AIDS or AIDS-Related Complex (ARC). Following national and state guidelines and recommendations, boards of education have adopted approaches that include procedures and policies for individual determinations regarding students and personnel, curriculum…

Introduces several papers that provide information about the U.S. Department of Education Comprehensive School Health Education Program (CSHEP). After describing the CSHEP and summarizing the three papers, the article presents emerging themes for the future (student needs-driven, outcomes-based, coordinated, comprehensive, and school- and…

Two viewpoints criticize the views of DeYoung and others by claiming that the middle school movement came about as a result of research documenting the developmental needs of children. Rejoinder by DeYoung and others maintains that this trend has led to the loss of rural communities and had more to do with economic factors and rural elementary…

Argues for the establishment of "African-centered" schools on an experimental basis, in direct consultation and partnership with students, educators, administrators, and the local community. Maintains that most mainstream public schools reinforce concepts and values of the dominant culture and alienate students of color. (MJP)

Two public forums addressed educational goals established by the Delaware State Board of Education involving public support for quality education and partnerships between families, communities, and schools. Representatives from rural schools, communities, community organizations, and professional agencies discussed primarily the concept of…