The laboratory method has institutionalized itself in the larger social system, and an investigation of how this came about provides an important case study of social intervention. Uses of the method's intrinsic "change-agent" concept are illustrated, and particular aspects of the growth of the movement are examined. (Author)

"Open Minds to Equality" is an educator's sourcebook of activities to help students understand and change inequalities based on: race, gender, class, age, language, sexual orientation, physical/mental ability, and religion. The activities promote respect for diversity and interpersonal equality among students, fostering a classroom that is…

Spurred by the economic boom of the late 1990s and a decades-old national standards movement that increased both the transparency of assessment results and the awareness of urban public school failure, communities across the country are turning to community organizing as a strategy for improving public education. As organizations confront the…

Nearly everyone involved in the enterprise of schooling understands the profound importance of building and sustaining a high-quality team of teachers. Moreover, the research is clear: the single most important school-based determinant of student achievement is the quality of the teacher in the classroom. Yet, urban schools must often staff their…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) is the latest revision to federal special education law. There were several exciting new additions to the law that should enhance meaningful parent involvement in their child's special education program. This document provides parents and service providers general information about the…

Inquiry, exploration and valuing were elements of the appreciative inquiry process used in this year's Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) Leadership Advisory Council to discern the strengths of Extension and its personnel and to help envision a vital future that builds on those strengths. Before the meeting, participants…

Even the best principals and teachers need additional inspiration and energy to motivate students and even themselves. This handbook shows principals and teachers how to upgrade performance in the classroom and schoolwide. Using evidence-based strategies, John Le Tellier provides a catalog of practiced "moves" to help create an empowering…

This brief outlines nine leading research-based concepts that have served as a foundation for education reform. It compares existing ideas about learning, knowledge, and teaching with conceptual benchmarks for "best practice" that would be consistent with current research. The goal is to foster inquiry and support fundamental, long-term…

In a previous Illinois Education Research Council (IERC) policy research report, The Distribution of Teacher Quality in Illinois (IERC 2005-1), we introduced the Illinois Teacher Quality Index (TQI). The TQI is a school-level indicator of teacher quality that describes a school's concentration of certain teacher attributes that research suggests…

Youth corrections in California is at a crossroads. In response to the near universal recognition of California's failed approach to youth corrections, Governor Schwarzenegger, with support from the California Legislature, has launched one of the largest restructuring initiatives of youth corrections in state history. Reforms currently underway…

Noting that parents have the power and influence to positively affect their child's school achievement and influence schools so that other children can benefit from improved educational environments, this program for parent engagement uses the developmental assets framework to build relationships between students, parents, and school staff.…

This document is a chapter in "The Principles and Practice of Educational Management," which aims to provide a systematic and analytical introduction to the study of educational management. The structure of the book reflects the main substantive areas of educational leadership and management, and most of the major themes are covered in…

This document is comprised of three Center for Law and Policy articles dealing with reauthorization of funding for the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The first article compares the U.S. House and Senate bills for reauthorization, asserting that in a broad array of areas, the Senate bill provides states with more…

This brief paper offers an inventory to help implement change strategies and achieve person-centered planning for people with severe disabilities. The inventory is intended to examine use of 12 resources that facilitate change and increase the chance of good outcomes. A visual display of the model on which the inventory is based is provided first.…

Michael Allen focuses on the personal and social issues (antisocial behavior, peer pressure, sex, special education, and lack of parent involvement) that students bring to school each day. He examines how administrators and teachers can wade through the psycho/social dysfunction in order to give their students the survival skills they need to be…