Presents three examples of large-scale school construction and renovation projects in France where a link has been established between school design and successful teaching and learning. Further discussed are the conclusions that can be drawn from these projects in preparatory work prior to building. (GR)

Describes the contributions cognitive perspectives can make to the study and practice of school leadership. These include redefining the meaning of effective leadership, changing the understanding of the knowledge base for effective leadership, and reforming the means for developing effective school leadership. Efforts to progress with each are…

This editorial addresses issues of evaluating school effectiveness, especially in the United Kingdom, with emphasis on use of value-added approaches. It stresses the importance of having a good measure of pupils' prior attainment, the need for noting differences between and within schools, and the finding that most schools obtain results which are…

Value-added measures of school effectiveness are reviewed in relation to the British government's requirement for schools to publish raw examination results. A series of multilevel analyses of examination results found that most variation in pupil outcomes could be explained by pupil intake factors suggesting the greater importance of…

Variations in the rates, school types, and successful school strategies employed were evaluated with 5 cohorts of pupils passing through 34 secondary schools in 1 British local education agency. The study used a multilevel analytical model which found about one in seven schools improved rapidly over the five-year period, but that differences in…

The Manitoba School Improvement Program Inc. (MSIP) acts as a "critical friend" to support risk-taking secondary school teachers. Suggested school improvement strategies include mobilizing staff commitment, broadening leadership and participation bases, and developing systematic inquiry for school self-evaluation. Successful schools are…

Examines the head of department's role within school and departmental improvement, considering the dimensions of the leadership role, the impact of types of departments on leadership potential, differential strategies for departmental improvement, and the relationship between departmental and school development. Argues for organization-wide…

Examined the usefulness of British Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) reports for educational improvement. After a pilot examination of 21 OFSTED reports, examined the scalar judgments of 11 reports in detail. Findings indicate that the inspection reports are weak and questionable products, not a good base for developing school improvement…

Included in this year's U.S. Department of Education appropriations was a $150 million Comprehensive School Reform Initiative that will send at least $50,000 to each school that wants to use a reform model based on reliable research and effective practices. Comprehensive reform improves the entire school, from curriculum and instruction to parent…

Analyzes subject teaching-group effectiveness in English and Welsh General Certification of Education (GCE) Advanced Level prior to a linking to resources; suggests cross-classified multilevel models with weighted random effects for disentangling student, group, and teacher effects; finds that teacher effects are considerable, but cannot find…

Applies observations and advice by management guru Peter F. Drucker to the role of school system leaders. Topics include the customer as king, the continually changing definition of success, effective time management, the ethical dimension of decision making, and performance-based leadership (MLF)

Discussion of school violence and student misbehavior reviews research showing that violent and unsafe student behaviors are the outcome of a predictable chain of events that begins with academic failure. The paper urges a greater emphasis on effective academic instruction in any efforts to prevent school violence and improve school safety.…

Describes several elements of the Effective Schools Process and how they were implemented in the Oxnard School District in partnership with the California Center for Effective Schools at the University of California Santa Barbara. Reports on changes in teacher attitudes and perceptions a year and a half after implementation. (Contains 12…

Outlines a longitudinal study of a Midwest urban high school to investigate the design of smaller learning communities within large school buildings. Explores the role of the physical environment in forming small learning communities. Examines how the school's physical environment contributes to sociability. Discusses the role that youth…

Examines the popularity of America's charter schools, the seven major legal and policy areas that figure into the development of each state's charter school legislation, and their funding. The article discusses how charter schools compare to public schools on student test scores and their effect on public school district operations and financing.…