Like most countries that have implemented some form of decentralization policy, Mexico followed a strategy of legislation first and actual reform second. Nicaragua, on the other hand, moved toward school-based management and significant changes in governance and finance with little legal framework. Benefits and pitfalls of the two national…

Critically reviews the sixth curriculum of the middle and high school syllabus in Korea, analyzes syllabus categories and sample sentences of the categories, identifies problems with the syllabus, and suggests reform measures for future syllabus design. (Author/VWL)

Outlines 50 specific ways in which law schools can encourage and support faculty scholarly efforts, including creating an intellectual environment supportive of scholarship, arranging time for scholarly activities, finding ways to pay additional money for scholarship, changing hiring and retention policies to promote scholarship, and using…

Argues that various reforms have been initiated in an attempt to respond to calls for school improvement, and although well-intentioned, most attempts have failed to bring about the substantive change needed in American schools. Discusses first- and second-order change and middle school philosophy. Recounts two stories of change. (SD)

Examines arguments made by Kenneth Ludmerer in "Time To Heal: American Medical Education from the Turn of the Century to the Era of Managed Care," who charges that medical educators have failed to address basic social, organizational, and financial problems. Calls for deep transformation of the ethos, social system, and organization of medical…

Evaluates a (British) government white paper on postsecondary education. Welcomes community councils, social partnerships, and enhanced resources, while criticizing absence of a change model, inadequate employer training investments, and slavish adherence to business's needs and human-capital theory. Empowerment goes further than endless…

This article describes the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and how the Missouri School for the Blind has been using it to measure its organizational effectiveness by focusing on the future, managing by fact, and creating innovative solutions to meet the needs of students, families, staff, and other service providers. (Contains references.)…

Details the University of Colorado (CU) Assessment Project, designed to help teachers create and implement classroom-based performance assessments to complement mathematics and literacy instructional goals. Notes patterns of change, including: instructional and assessment practices with greater emphasis on conceptual understanding; higher…

Examined the impact of an 8-week intervention program designed to reduce racial/ethnic stereotyping among preschoolers varying in classification skill. Found that children in the experimental group had increased in classification skills at posttest and were less likely to sort photo cards by race/ethnicity and more likely to sort them by gender…

Details changes in programs and practice to improve middle level education. Examines characteristics of developmentally responsive middle schools. Identifies barriers to efforts to provide meaningful learning experiences through curriculum integration. Maintains that changes should revolve around expanding teachers' models of learning to…

This article describes Effective Behavioral Support, a systems approach to enhancing the capacity of schools to adopt and sustain use of effective processes for all students. Implementation across four major areas of the school system is discussed, including: (1) schoolwide; (2) nonclassroom; (3) classroom, and (4) individual student. A sample…

Presents a practical model of teacher communication, consultation, and provision of services that can make a difference in the education of children with disabilities. Strategies that special educators can use to initiate communication and develop ongoing communication with regular education teachers are provided. (CR)

Examines recent claims that Australian education is being deprofessionalized, and discusses how different theories of professionalism encourage particular focuses on and interpretation of empirical data. Suggests recent theoretical developments which view professionalism as discourse offer a way of rethinking professionalism and educational change…

Discusses the "Gardendale Family"--a vertically aligned team of K-6 classrooms. Notes that the family sought to develop a sense of community within the school; promote family involvement; develop a cognitively engaging and culturally connected curriculum; engage students in authentic learning; and develop programs to encourage individual…

Offers reflections on lingering issues raised in this themed issue on the "Gardendale Family": maintaining the integrity of the family; issues of time; curriculum standards; and effects on the rest of the school. Offers a bibliography of works considering the global concerns which prompted the formation of the Gardendale Family. (SR)