This article describes effects of four reform efforts on the role of the gifted and talented specialist in Oregon including Oregon's Educational Act for the 21st Century, adoption of both site-based decision-making models and integrative education models, and Oregon's Talented and Gifted Mandate. The emerging collaborative consultant role is…

A survey on the role of academic library committees showed that not all libraries use committees in significant roles; committees do not guarantee librarians a significant voice; librarians were positive about policy-related committees and negative about fact-finding and information-gathering committees; and smaller libraries used committees more…

Presents a simulation used in a political science course on U.S. foreign policy in which college students role play National Security Council members and government officials during a hijacking incident. Analyzes four groups' responses to the exercise. Suggests the simulation involves students in crisis decision making, developing better…

Provides a sequentially integrated approach to educational policy development. By incorporating analyses of educational decision-making basics, accepted site-based management practices, sound educational research, assessment of policy values, and a disciplined decision-making process, campus management teams can provide the effective, proactive…

A Colorado school district has adopted Total Quality Management (TQM) to improve quality and reduce costs. The basic components that drive continuous improvement in TQM are focusing on responding to customer needs, basing decisions on data, and allowing everyone to participate in the process. (MLF)

Reports current ideas from the general organizational productivity literature to provide a broader context for restructuring schools. The article discusses work culture patterns (involving schoolwide planning, professional development, program development, and school assessment) and describes how to manage productive schools, presenting…

Views the recent efforts at school restructuring and educational reform as promoting mechanistic education and measurement-driven instruction. Contends that teacher autonomy actually has been reduced because student assessment is now the responsibility of outside experts. Calls for a restructuring process that returns collaborative decision making…

Kentucky's 1990 Education Reform Act instituted new governance structure creating school-based councils composed of parent and teacher representatives who participate with principals in decisions involving eight major areas. School councils' role has remained ambiguous in personnel matters. Model presented here enhances principal's decision-making…

A model of the new participatory-style school leader, San Jose (California) Unified Schools' superintendent Jim Baughman elicits a wide range of ideas and encourages broad-based participation to resolve district problems like imminent teacher strikes and an ever-worsening financial situation. His administrative cluster restructuring plan is…

Studies effects of three styles of seminar presentation on the group decision-making process and group dynamics of 126 mature management students. Finds that using a written presentation and offering ideas as guidance increased student participation in discussion and problem solving. Suggests that the briefing paper style tends to encourage…

Based on an educational consultant's experience with a Pacific Telesis Foundation school restructuring program, this article shows the importance of time and culture. Restructuring means formally rearranging time usage to allow schools to create and sustain an interactive culture and supporting infrastructure for improving student learning. To…

Presents a conceptual framework and a coherent method for information-technology design in an organizational context within the participatory-design tradition. The MUST method, developed through projects in Danish and American organizations, is based on thorough participation with users and managers and combines the use of ethnographic techniques…

Suggests that ethical problems in research involving contact with children can be overcome by using a participatory approach. Describes a study conducted in England and Wales that explored what part children are playing in decisions since implementation of the Children Act 1989 and what the participants think of the process. (LPP)

Analyzes various documents related to renewal of one university's preservice-teacher-education program. Describes design choices that represented significant breaks with past practice (total program planning, partner schools for all teacher candidates, operating within sustainable budgets, and shared governance) and examines resulting consequences…

The realization that students' and teachers' collaborative efforts are more creative, innovative, and academically challenging than traditional teacher-controlled instruction is the underlying premise behind these awards given by the Foxfire Fund. Describes the learner-centered experiences of seven award-winning classrooms from around the United…