Argues that current provisions for students excluded for behavior problems (Pupil Referral Units) differ little from those found before 10 years of educational reform (the former "off-site units"). Presents evidence gathered from excluded children and their teachers in four aspects of provisions: (1) resourcing and accommodation; (2)…

Describes curriculum at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), a public high school that offers a rigorous fine-arts curriculum in music, dance, visual arts, theater, and creative writing. A total of 260 students attend home schools half of the day and take classes at NOCCA the second half. Although not founded as a magnet school, the…

Examines vital design issues pertaining to the "Online Self-Test," a simple solution for dealing with concerns about lack of time and lack of motivation in distance education. Presents experiences gained during the implementation of the Online Self-Test Center for Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, India, and…

In an effort to find out what makes small schools work, teachers, administrators, and students from seven small high schools in seven states were interviewed. While each school was different, themes that surfaced included the presence of varied forms of small learning communities, personalized learning plans, learner-centered assessment and…

Lists the top 100 public schools ranked according to a ratio: the number of Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests taken by all students at a school in 2002 divided by the number of graduating seniors. Explores what makes them great and what other schools can learn about AP testing and innovative methods (MLF)

Presents an example of a complete Patchwork Text assignment assembled by a student during the module "Perspectives on Research and Knowledge in Professional Practice." The example illustrates the Patchwork format of a sequence of writing tasks produced at intervals during the course and ending with an attempt at a retrospective synthesis. (AEF)

Reports on the experience of using the Patchwork Text strategy in a modular course structure. The idea was to provide formative feedback for the students who traditionally complain that all the assessment occurs at the end of the module. A surprising side-effect was that students were clearly studying earlier in the module. (Author/AEF)

Outlines the development of information technology (IT) in education in Hong Kong from its beginnings in the 1980s. Reports on how Hong Kong's schools have moved toward online learning and analyzes difficulties they have been encountering in the process. Suggests that the major impediment to technology integration in education comes from beliefs…

A private alternative school in the slums of New Delhi (India) is committed to ending female child labor and ensuring that its students don't grow up poor. The school was able to enroll girls in its all-female afternoon classes by getting their mothers involved in income-generating cooperatives. The students often outperform their peers in state…

Examines the current condition of the charter-school movement. On the one hand, the demand for and satisfaction of charter schools is high; on the other, opposition to charter schools is growing. Suggests that changes, including a national organization to press for accountability, are needed for the movement to succeed. (WFA)

Discusses the curriculum objectives, typical student, and degree programs of Empire State College. Nontraditional course selection is possible since each student designs his/her own degree program and completes it through independent study. Programs of these non-traditional students have professional content, but the anthropological content is not…

This paper discusses the responsibility of providing a quality education to all individuals, examines the role the community college can play in meeting the educational and social needs of dropouts, and presents an innovative program at a community college that has been particularly effective in meeting the needs of dropouts. (Author/MLW)

A description is given of a college physical education course, "Non-Traditional Team Sports," in which the affective goals assume primary importance. A secondary emphasis is placed on lifelong physical fitness as a by-product of the program. Topics discussed include student responsibility, student journals, discipline, and curriculum objectives.…

Outlines the principles underlying the development of alternative schools in Community School District Four in New York (New York). Emphasizes the importance of the involvement of students, parents and professional staff in decision-making. (FMW)

Explains that Hunter's Instructional Theory Into Practice/Teacher Assessment Model and developmentally appropriate practices are mutually incompatible alternatives to good early childhood education practices. (BB)