The 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act catapulted a "backwater" state to leadership prominence in structural reform. Grounded on school-readiness and community-involvement precepts, KERA links schools and social service agencies and provides family resource/youth services centers to coordinate social service delivery for preschool…

Alternative assessments have sometimes been used for such purposes as external control of schools. Equitable use of alternatives such as performance-based assessment depends on top-down support for bottom-up reform, careful design, and how well assessment is interwoven with the goals of authentic school reform and effective teaching. (SK)

Educational reform offers the possibility of effecting change in both educational policy and practice that can result in increased personal empowerment for teachers. However, changes brought about by school reform will result in increased levels of perceived stress for practitioners. Consequently, planners need to consider the role and value of…

Synthesizes evidence from three independent studies of conditions fostering organizational learning in schools conducted in different contexts, but using comparable methods. The purpose was to identify such conditions from state, district, and school sources, relying on qualitative data from 111 teachers in 14 schools. Collegial atmosphere and…

Analyzes how the social interactional approach of computer-supported collaborative learning meshes with the Finnish school environment. Discusses what aspects of Finnish educational culture, and particularly communication culture, support or hinder the restructuring of educational practices according to cognitive principles of learning and…

Examines the 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Ac,t noting the law's alignment with standards-based reforms and new provisions in four areas: individualized education programs, state performance goals, student assessments, and funding. Discusses content standards and the general education curriculum, case studies of…

Examines the trend toward institutional amalgamation and the establishment of cross-institutional consortia in higher education in China and explores policy issues connected with this trend. Uses national data and a case study of a consortium in Beijing. (SLD)

Suggests building U.S. schools around the assumption that effort actually creates ability and outlines the effective features of a system based on this premise: (1) clear expectations; (2) fair evaluation; (3) payoffs for success; (4) the time needed to meet learning expectations; and (5) expert instruction. (SLD)

Investigated the causes of school failure from a student perspective through interviews with 40 urban high school students experiencing academic difficulties. Findings magnify issues of power, resistance, and diversity as they are linked to patterns of student achievement urban schools must address before advancing specific restructuring efforts.…

Using a sample of 160 students from New Hampshire's Brewster Academy, a study investigated possible improvements in student performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test that covaried with participation in the School Design Model. Results were positive, indicating that a research-driven improvement process can enhance independent school performance.…

Discusses how to implement block scheduling in secondary schools. Topics include restructuring time; leadership as the key to successful change; the concept of Total Quality; human resources; the necessity of the change process; how to effect change; and the value of school restructuring. (LRW)

Researchers followed the progress of 10 restructured secondary schools as they "detracked" their curriculum. Most schools abolished low-level courses in favor of regular classes with honors options. Two middle schools developed a common curriculum; some high schools required all students to pass benchmark classes. Others created opportunities for…

Presents three case studies of the initial efforts of change agents in a large urban school district as they develop mechanisms to coordinate resources at school sites and to establish linkages with community agencies. The case studies demonstrate that implementation of change differed according to the local context and the personal visions of the…

Reports on a survey completed by 454 members of the National Dropout Prevention Network about whether school reform is serving at-risk students. Nearly three-fourths of respondents thought that restructuring programs in their communities are not effectively changing the schools to meet the needs of students in at-risk situations. (SLD)

Discusses establishing a new basis for discipline in U.S. high schools, and suggests making high school voluntary to increase the number of students who really want to be in school. Another suggestion is to find ways to introduce adults into the classrooms to boost the authority of classroom teachers. (SLD)