Many new ideas arise at the borders of systems. Academics and educators engage in research and reform of the education system itself, but much that is innovative in today's schools originates outside the classroom, in a burgeoning set of programs and partnerships with the voluntary or community sector, and in the relationships being established by…

This paper will highlight an innovate practice in teaching and learning by reflecting on two fourth-year sociology seminar classes that participated in a community-based learning project at York University. Fifty students collaborated in three to six person teams to work on a problem/issue identified by one of five not-for-profit organizations who…

This article is derived from a larger study of the Family Learning Network (FLN) which evaluated the effectiveness of school and community agency partnerships in enhancing student engagement. In particular it describes how photo elicitation methodology was used with 8 year old primary school children in three schools to discuss their views of the…

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the differences in teacher quality, student achievement, and graduation rates among select North Carolina urban high schools based on their racial segregation when measured by the entropy index. The entropy index is a measure of evenness among racial groups used to determine the level of segregation…

This district report summarizes results from the 2006-2007 through 2008-2009 Austin Independent School District (AISD) staff climate surveys.

Physical education time has been reduced or even eliminated in middle and high schools in favor of more time for standardized test preparation, especially in urban schools and inner cities. One way to replace the time lost is by providing it after school as part of a comprehensive program. After-School All-Stars (ASAS) is such a program, networked…

This paper reviews research on small rural primary schools in Finland and analyses it under three thematic foci: the relationship between the local rural school and the surrounding community, the small rural primary school as a learning environment, and the teachers' profession in this context. Over 30% of Finnish primary schools are small rural…

The notion of readiness and what it means to be ready for school dominates much of the popular discussion, as well as the research base, about transition to school. Readiness means different things for different people, yet almost always there is a perception that readiness for school involves some assessment of the characteristics of individual…

In this article, the author outlines a variety of ways of defining, making explicit, and supporting effective team-based projects through the basic tenets of Lean Six Sigma and the use of Web-based technologies. A combination of Lean Six Sigma and a handful of project management technologies not only help in fostering the communication central to…

This article describes the application of a university-community partnership model to the problem of adapting evidence-based treatment approaches in a community mental health setting. Background on partnership research is presented, with consideration of methodological and practical issues related to this kind of research. Then, a rationale for…

This study uses techniques developed for describing the "environments" of U.S. universities and explores the correlation between national characteristics and university characteristics in the British Commonwealth. Results suggest that these techniques are appropriate for characterizing Commonwealth universities and that national…

OBSERVATIONS ARE PRESENTED ON A COMMUNITY PROJECT, STARTED IN 1958, TO EXPOSE CHILDREN TO CREATIVE WORK AND THUS ASSIST THEM TO DETERMINE CAREERS. YOUNG PEOPLE, AGES 10-18 AND RESPRESENTING 15 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL POPULATION, WORK SATURDAY MORNINGS WITH PROFESSIONALS (SCIENTISTS, ARTISTS, HISTORIANS) WHO ARE ORGANIZED IN A COMMUNITY RESOURCES…

A jogging trail with exercise stations (parcours) in the forty acres next to an elementary school is used for physical fitness and leisurely walks. (MJB)

To respond to anger effectively, all school employees must possess an informed, constructive understanding of this emotion and some personal strategies for managing angry people. This article offers advice concerning appropriate attitudes, calm demeanor, nondefensive listening, problem definition, and correct responses to expressions of anger.…