This workbook is the first in a series devoted to all areas of charter-school development. It addresses the logistics of starting a school, such as drafting a charter, creating a vision and mission, accessing expert information, navigating the application process, acquiring a facility, establishing a legal entity, and contracting for services. The…

This booklet provides an overview of charter schools. It is part of a series which attempts to provide stakeholders resources on education-related topics of interest. The text opens with a description of the defining characteristics of charter schools, as well as what is not a charter school. Charter schools are based on the belief that a public…

In this paper, a college English professor shares his teaching experiences in a Hybrid Electronic Course (HEC), which combined traditional classroom meetings with e-mail-based workshops. The paper includes a general description of the course, the instructor's daily journals throughout the course, and his reflections following the course. Many of…

Lawrence Kohlberg believed children needed to be in an environment that allowed for open and public discussion of day-to-day conflicts and problems to develop their moral reasoning ability. This study examined moral discourse, reflection, and development in a school community with a process similar to that described by Kohlberg. Data were drawn…

This paper examines ways in which the operation of charter schools by "comprehensive management" educational management organizations (EMOs) influences the decentralized nature of charter schools, particularly in the area of educational issues. It provides a comparative case study of three for-profit EMOs that provide comprehensive…

This paper analyzes Pennsylvania's Safe Schools Act of 1995 and 1997, discussing decisions that led to its adoption and its impact on Pennsylvania schools from 1995 to 2001. It presents a history of media reports on school violence, and discusses the national experience, zero tolerance and its effects, and Pennsylvania's answer to school violence.…

This document describes an opinion survey of students who had taken one or more online courses from a Michigan community college in the previous year. A random sample of 399 students received a questionnaire; telephone interviews were also conducted. Findings include: (1) 79% of students said their educational goal in taking the online course was…

With the establishment of the Internet and World Wide Web as part of the digital revolution, there has been a trend in which synchronous and asynchronous distance education opportunities have been made available to a greater variety of learners. However, students are indiscriminately pursuing online learning opportunities for the sake of…

In the transition from traditional teaching and learning to eLearning, the authors advocate avoiding disruptive approaches. The authors claim that many virtual university and corporate university efforts worldwide try to showcase big leaps forward, yet lack sustainability, suffer from in-vitro conditions, and leave behind the big mass of teachers.…

In 1960, in developing nations, less than half of primary-school-age children were enrolled in school. By the early 1990s, despite rapid population increases in much of the world, the proportion was more than 75%. In most developing countries, education has been largely synonymous with schooling but not entirely. Formal schools have been widely…

The jagged study zone model helps designers to create educational environments which challenge the learner and make the learner to commit to the learning process. The characteristics of a jagged study zone can be explained by showing how its features are related to traditional closed and open learning environments. The requirements for a jagged…

Academic dishonesty is a concern at any educational level. However, many faculty members feel uncomfortable with delivering courses in the online environment due to a concern that students may find it easier to participate in academic dishonesty than they would in a traditional classroom. This paper looks at factors that are considered to…

This handbook is designed to serve as a guide for community colleges as they plan distance learning programs. Produced by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, it provides member institutions with guidelines and policies that will be considered in the evaluation of distance education. Eleven current accreditation concerns…

This publication describes alternative teaching and learning strategies that challenge all students to reach high standards. Five alternative options are emphasized: (1) rigorous use of diagnostic systems to identify problem areas and student strengths; (2) staffing flexibility to facilitate better student-instructor relationships; (3)…

This booklet is the sixth in a series designed to assist parents who are home-schooling their adolescent children and focuses on ways to provide encouragement to home-schooled teenagers. The articles in this booklet are: (1) "First Year Surprises," presenting one home-schooling family's experiences during the first year related to the nature of…