The typical Amish school is a one-room schoolhouse without electricity or running water; the teacher has never attended high school; the students are not separated by age, grade, or ability. Yet Amish pupils consistently score equal to or slightly above the national norms on standardized tests. Their success may be due to emphasis on social…

The National Association of Secondary School Principals' Comprehensive Assessment of School Environment (CASE) Model is an important first step toward making an information management system available to schools. It can provide principals with a tool analogous to the spreadsheet planning programs used by business executives. Includes four figures…

This article describes some of the strategies adopted by Keyes Elementary School (K-5) in Irving, TX. Students represent about 10 different languages and populations. Attendance, raising math test scores, and staff selection are highlighted. (IAH)

Many proponents believe school choice is the single strongest idea to transform public education. Choice can help parents find a better school for their children or improve the school their children now attend. Secondary schools can improve themselves by offering students and parents choice of teachers, behavior-management plans, curriculum…

Principle-centered discipline is based on creating a climate of high expectations for the desired student behavior. When discipline problems persist, reevaluate school rules, punishments, and rewards in light of the principles that underlie the discipline plan. Such a policy requires broad support from the school board and staff. (MLF)

Education in the twenty-first century must include community service as part of its mission. School-based community service fosters the development of "niches," establishes the school as a community talent base, allows schools more flexibility in relevant program development, permits school access to community financial and service…

A nationwide study of 500 schools showed that attending an effectively organized high school is worth an extra year's achievement over the course of one's high-school career. Only student aptitude trumped school organization as an achievement influence. Productive schools stress sound planning, people and program development, and accountability.…

Qualitative data from five British secondary schools show that strong headteachers have similar, well-balanced leadership styles and strategies and are able to motivate staff and students. Poor leaders use a limited range of styles and strategies. Social context, internal politics, and external pressures constrain the leadership of headteachers.…

Discusses the "house" concept architectural design at Albert Lea High School (Minnesota) and how the design addresses the community's 21st Century educational goals. Photos and a floor plan are included. (GR)

Discusses a study that was part of a larger project commissioned by the Scottish Office Education Department in 1994 (the Improving School Effectiveness Project) that gathered extensive qualitative data on a subset of 24 schools. The study showed a correlation between school development planning processes and school effectiveness. (Contains 20…

Compared three residual-based methods for indexing school effectiveness using data from elementary schools in Maryland. Results indicate that the hierarchical linear model approach had higher stability across achievement test forms. Results further suggest that when only school-level data are available, the use of either of the school-level models…

Although Texas has encountered challenges while working to improve the school accountability system, results thus far are promising. The Texas Public School Accountability System has contributed to impressive student achievement gains while reducing the achievement gap among various groups of students. Elementary schools have shown the greatest…

Within the context of continual dissatisfaction with American public schools, charter school proponents view charter schools as a viable reform mechanism. Here, Garrison and Holifield compare the perceptions of charter school principals regarding the extent to which the effective school correlates have been implemented in their respective schools…

The primary objective of this paper has been to define a quality university from the user's perspective, based on what students expressed regarding different aspects of the institution. Two methodologically different formats of collecting information have assisted in testing the coherence of their opinions. A qualitative and quantitative approach…

"Turnaround Schools and the Leadership They Require" was commissioned by the Canadian Education Association (CEA) in 2006. The research, conducted by Kenneth Leithwood and Tiiu Strauss, was a two-year study of Ontario schools identified as in need of "turnaround" meaning that a significant improvement in school achievement was…