The Urban Development Component at Research for Better Schools, Inc., attempted to attack problems facing urban secondary schools in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania by using the "natural channels" of educational and civic associations to disseminate research and development information and to work collaboratively toward improving…

During 1986-87, the Tennessee Technological University Rural Education Research and Service Consortium continued to facilitate research and service activities of the College of Education faculty in selected rural schools, provide assistance to faculty desiring to engage in such research/service, and provide documentation of school improvement…

Developed as part of the reaccreditation process, this report represents a comprehensive self-analysis by the College of Lake County (CLC), which sought to involve the entire institution in an examination of CLC's mission, resources, accomplishments, and future plans. Chapter 1 introduces the self-study's purpose, participants, and processes;…

In addition to achievement, school climate and psychosocial adjustment among students are important criteria in evaluating school based intervention programs. This study examined the effectiveness of the School Development Program (SDP) in an inner city school system. The program applies principles of social and behavioral science to every aspect…

A conceptual synthesis is presented of the ways in which multilevel methods of data collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting can be used in instructional improvement activities in local school districts. This discussion of multilevel methods in school settings focuses on the "what" of information needs and usage. Principles and…

The primary purpose of this study was to identify school attributes that are associated with cognitive achievement and other selected student behaviors. The data were drawn from the base year survey of High School and Beyond, a national longitudinal study sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics. More than 30,000 sophomores and…

A review of school effectiveness literature is presented in this paper. Research studies and other literature on this topic are examined, including case studies, surveys and evaluations, studies of program implementations, and organizational theories of schools and other institutions. Emphasis is given to organizational theories and findings…

The Institute for Development of Educational Activities (/I/D/E/A/) School Improvement Program (SIP) is based upon a school-based approach to staff development and school improvement program known as the Readiness, Planning, Training, Implementation, and Maintenance (RPTIM) Model. There are five stages to the RPTIM Model: (1) readiness, dealing…

At the conference on American high school reform sponsored by the Council for Basic Education, three themes emerged: (1) the problems facing secondary schools have been accurately identified; (2) educators know the solutions; and (3) what is needed is the political will to implement what is known. At the conference, Professor Chester Finn…

Based on a review of the literature, the author summarizes and evaluates research on the role of principals in effective schools and suggests additional factors needing study. Her review identifies nine features of effective principals and schools, involving commitment to academic goals, academic expectations, school climates that facilitate…

Highlights of a public opinion survey on the quality of Chicago Public Schools are presented in this executive summary of a more detailed report (UD 024 295). First, characteristics of public schools parents are outlined (although parents of students in private schools and non-parents were included in the survey). Public school parents, it is…

This paper summarizes the "Survey of Magnet Schools," a study of the effectiveness of such schools in a nationally representative sample of 15 urban school districts. Among the significant findings are the following: (1) between 1981 and 1983 magnet school enrollments ranged from 21 percent to 71 percent white, a slightly higher percentage of…

This is an advance planning guide aimed at helping Chicago Public School principals carry out a school action plan, Academy for Effective Schools, in the 1984-85 school year. It suggest ways that schools can build on the school goals and practices established in previous plans. The terminology of the planning cycle is similar to that used in the…

The Governors' Task Force on Leadership and Management created an action agenda to develop policies that strengthen school leadership, encourage school renewal, and determine broad educational goals. Suggested improvements include provision of proper training and certification programs for principals, effective inservice management development…

Educational reforms being called for in the 1980's are compared to reforms of the 1950's. The Sputnik-inspired quest for quality called for reform in the content and structure of basic subjects. Current reports say that what educators are doing in the basic subjects is ok, but they need to do more. (RM)