The School Effectiveness Training Program (SET) and the Secondary School Development Program (SSDP) were school-improvement programs developed by the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), a state teachers' organization, and Research for Better Schools (RBS), a regional educational laboratory. Coordinating councils played pivotal roles in both…

Findings of a study that examined the relationship between classroom orientation and sociometric patterns within the classroom are presented in this paper. Methodology involved observation of 12 classrooms in Ontario and administration of two survey instruments to 20 fourth-year students. Classroom orientations were categorized as cooperative,…

This booklet presents the results of an exploratory study of educational indicators that differentiate more effective from less effective primary schools. The studies examined in the booklet encompassed 26 national systems of education. The booklet considers the community context of the school; school management; school size, type, and staffing…

This paper presents data from two in-depth studies to illustrate the importance of community involvement and staff development for improving schools. The first case study describes how community political action in a school district in southwestern Ohio spurred school reform. In "Riverside," a pseudonym, the black community sought to…

This handbook is designed to help school communities work together to strengthen California's public schools. It provides information to help leaders in school-improvement efforts be more effective and is designed for parent leaders, teacher leaders, school administrators, businesspeople, philanthropists, school board members, and others with a…

Based on an extensive analysis of the characteristics of 113 accountability reports from 32 state education agencies, a study group convened to develop a list of necessary, desirable, and succinct characteristics of good state and district educational accountability reports. This report discusses the recommendations of the study group. Desirable…

This volume addresses the efforts in several states, including California, Florida, North Carolina, and Washington, to determine the economic gains of community college graduates by measuring their post-college earnings. Articles include: (1) "Economic Benefits of a Community College Education: Issues of Accountability and Performance Measures"…

This expanded issue explores well-known comprehensive school reform models and provides tools and resources to assist school leaders in choosing reform programs. Case studies provide information about three well-known models: the Coalition of Essential Schools, the Paideia Program, and the Success for All Program. These reforms are discussed in…

Much research has been devoted to ways in which schools influence students. To study this influence, the identification and definition of dimensions of school effectiveness across a range of outcomes and different geographical and educational policy contexts is presented here. The paper describes the findings from a 3-year study funded by the…

A synthesis of research on unusually effective schools is presented in this monograph, with a focus on research conducted since 1985. Three major issues are addressed: (1) the viability of the effective school concept in contemporary school reform; (2) the correlation between recent research and basic findings; (3) and the congruency of school…

This speech addresses the issue of excellence and leadership in academia. The speech begins with a review of what excellence is, how it is judged, and why it is important. It is argued that educational institutions, although they strive for excellence, do not always attain it, or else they present cosmetic approaches to make it appear they've…

The Hawkins/Stafford Elementary and Secondary Education Improvement Amendment of 1988 (P.L. 100-297) promotes access to quality education for educationally deprived students and excellence for all children. School level program improvement is a major component of this legislation. This publication is a major component of this legislation. This…

In 1984 the State of New York mandated participation in the Comprehensive School Improvement Program (CSIP) for elementary schools that ranked in the bottom 9 percent on statewide student competency exams. To discern the overall effectiveness of the program and identify why it appeared to succeed in some schools and fail in others, the changes in…

This study presents a means of identifying economically efficient school districts in Illinois and provides an analysis of select school variables: school population; salary expenditure; level of teacher preparedness; number of years of teaching experience; and select ratios incorporating pupils, administrators, teachers, test scores, and percent…

Florida educators, parents, and school board members are intensely debating the issue of tracking and ability grouping. After summarizing recent research affirming the deleterious effects of ability grouping, this report describes a survey of 600 Florida educators regarding their perceptions of this practice and their beliefs about its…