Describes a major New Zealand research project testing various strategies designed to develop meaningful partnerships between caregivers and teachers. Four field officers (developers) from the Curriculum Review Action Unit of the Ministry of Education were responsible for facilitating developments within four clusters of six to eight schools…

Ratings of a British rural comprehensive school were obtained from 98 of 170 parents of new entrants, 93 of 180 other parents, and 198 of 300 community members. Cumulatively, the most highly rated items were work emphasis, subject help, teaching method, exam results, discipline, staff demeanor, pupil appearance, and pupil demeanor. (SK)

Recent studies show that rural students take a greater variety of courses, have higher American College Test scores, perform better academically, and stay in school longer than their suburban counterparts. (SK)

To determine whether reform initiatives should be adopted by rural schools, the standards of equity and quality should be applied. Specific criteria for implementing the standards can be derived from the problems and strengths of rural schools, in terms of input, process, and outcome indicators. (SK)

Although the New York State reading assessment was aimed at identifying children with extra educational needs, one study shows that the current high-stakes nature of the tests has distorted that intent. Rather than rewarding instructional quality, state accountability profiles often reward questionable instructional practices such as retention in…

Examines connections between Alberta practitioners' perceptions of current school effectiveness in elementary and junior high schools and the relative importance of various effectiveness indicators. Because of differences in practioners' perceptions, schools and school systems need to continually probe the dimensions of school-effectiveness…

A study investigated the perceptions of 136 Australian college and university administrators' and public education officials concerning recent reform in Australian higher education, and whether or not perceptions corresponded to the changes that were intended, particularly in the areas of teaching and research quality, funding, management…

Describes a study of the school improvement target areas used by the 18 Kansas high schools initially involved in Outcomes Accreditation. Suggests that the most common cognitive targets were communication, mathematics, curriculum design, and academic success, whereas the most common affective targets were student behavior, school climate, and…

Highlights several articles with relevance for outcomes accreditation, focusing on the education and power of superintendents, reasons for the failure of school reform efforts, the value of educational research, educational leadership, principals' perceptions of educational reform, teacher conflicts/participation in shared decision making,…

Investigates the principal's instructional manager role, its relationship to student achievement, and how principals influence teachers to increase student learning. Subjects included elementary school principals and teachers in 27 schools. Student achievement was measured by regression analysis. Principal instructional management behavior was…

Examines the relationship between parental involvement and alternative education programs and reports results of a highly successful parent education program (Active Parenting) in Lima, Ohio. This video-based discussion program evinced high participant satisfaction, specifically encouraged 15 positive parenting behaviors, and discouraged some…

School districts implementing change proceed through the phases of investigation, facilitation, and cultivation. In addition, staff members are encouraged to develop professionally according to their individual choices and their levels of success and commitment. (MLF)

Briefly reviews the development of core curricula and interdisciplinary teaming in junior high/middle schools from the mid-1950s to the present. A recent study of 15,000 Maine eighth graders shows that schools using the middle-school, interdisciplinary approach outscored their junior high school peers enrolled in single-discipline subjects by 58…

Discusses the impact of day care center size on quality of care and center management. Large centers can be more resilient but can also be susceptible to mediocrity. Small centers may be safer, but less flexible. The ability of administrators to match interests with duties will vary with center size. (SH)

The 1966 Coleman report found that minority children began school with educational deficiencies and performed better in schools with predominantly middle-class student bodies. Some highly political responses to this report have been political and structural (e.g., busing and choice). Two school-initiated responses that avoid reshuffling students…